Backyard Buddies: Crazy Coots!

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01 Aug 2011

Right now, Coots are looking for love. The Australian Coot, a common water bird, breeds during winter and spring. These red-eyed, white-beaked, black birds with Frankenstein-looking feet may appear a little odd, but Backyard Buddies wants you to love your Coots.

Backyard Buddies is a free program run by Australia’s Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife. Each month, you get a Backyard Buddies email (B-mail) with tips to make your backyard safe and inviting for native animals. Coots featured in August B-mail. Sign up for B-mail and download a free Australian Coot factsheet at www.backyardbuddies.net.au.

“Coots are highly territorial during winter and spring when they are breeding,” said Ms Susanna Bradshaw, Acting CEO of the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife. “They swim menacingly towards any intruders and can fight like champion boxers with other birds, but they are harmless to humans.”

“Coots are fascinating to watch—particularly when they run along the surface of the water as they take off.”

“Mating displays are also impressive,” said Ms Bradshaw. “When a Coot wants to attract a breeding partner, it chases its desired Coot, calls and strikes the water with its wings. Once a pair of Coots agree they like each other, they nibble each other’s feathers affectionately and make greeting postures towards each other.”

“Coots are breeding now and may raise more than one clutch of eggs in the next few months, provided they have a healthy environment and plenty of food.”

“Sadly, many water birds and marine animals are feeling the pressure as rubbish, chemicals and garden runoff enter our waterways. But there’s a lot that people can do to help keep waterways clean,” said Ms Bradshaw.

Simple tips to create healthier waterways for Coots:

Pick up rubbish when you go for a walk, never put rubbish in an overflowing bin, and cover your bin so litter doesn’t blow free.
Stub out cigarette butts completely and bin them. Cigarette butts can easily end up in storm water systems and wash out into waterways where they harm Australia’s wildlife.
Check your local council website to find out how to dispose of unwanted garden and household chemicals and oils. Avoid pouring them down the drain as they end up in our waterways.
Join a Landcare, Coastcare or other volunteer group to keep your local area beautiful.
Pick up your pets’ droppings and dispose of them in the bin.
Wash your car on grass so that detergents don’t run into the stormwater drains, and service your car regularly so it doesn’t leak oil or petrol.

“Disposing of rubbish and chemicals thoughtfully will keep our waterways healthy for native species,” said Ms Bradshaw. “Healthy waterways produce lots of waterweeds which Coots love to eat, and give these fascinating birds ample opportunity to mate and raise chicks in safety.”

“Enjoy Coots in your area and do your bit to keep our waterways clean. Even small actions like picking up rubbish will help native animals like Coots raise many more little ones.”

“Cute Coot chicks are a real sight to see. Unlike their parents which are sleek and black with white face shields and beaks, young Coot chicks look hairy, with straggly orange and red feathers all over their heads and necks,” said Ms Bradshaw.

Have a look for Australian Coots gliding along in ponds, swamps, rivers, lakes and other water bodies. They can be found near water almost anywhere in Australia, except the arid interior. Listen out for their trumpeting ‘kow-kow-kow’ calls even at night, and check out their weird-looking, partially webbed feet.

Visit www.backyardbuddies.net.au to sign up to B-mail and download a free Coot fact sheet. Post photos of native animals on www.facebook.com/backyardbuddies for your chance to win prizes.

Backyard Buddies: Crazy Coots!

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