Coots’ migration biggest reason for stops in area

The e-mail subject line read, “coot et al,” and was from my friend Ed Grew.

“Did you ever get to see the coots, widgeons and green-winged teal in Witter Farm marsh this weekend? If not, it’s not too late. They must have weathered the freezes Friday and Saturday nights.”

The coot’s breeding range is largely north and west of the Great Lakes, extending up into Canada. Smaller breeding ranges encompass eastern Canada, Newfoundland, and some spots in the Northeast United States. Apparently there is a small breeding population in southern Maine, so their presence in the Bangor area is not common and more likely to occur during migration.

Ed had described seeing these birds earlier the week before, at the Witter Farm marsh in Orono, and had stopped in at my place of work to ask if I had gotten out to see them yet. I had to keep telling him no, not yet. Finally I realized I just had to make an effort over the weekend, so at least I could tell him I tried.

I went out on Sunday and saw the widgeons and green-winged teals, but that is another column. No coots this time, though, as I told Ed when he stopped in on Monday morning.

He was back Tuesday morning to say he had seen them again and encouraged me to get out there again soon. I decided to go the next morning before work and asked my friend and fellow co-worker Paul Markson, also a birder, to join me.

We met shortly after 7 a.m. at the edge of the marsh. The morning was sunny; the chill from the night before was giving way to unseasonably mild temperatures, making the gloves I was wearing unnecessary.

Walking slowly along the edge of the wetland, we carefully scanned around the emergent vegetation for any sign of the infamous coots.

Just as we had started to lose hope, a coot appeared. It swam furtively amongst the cattails, its head nodding in time to the rhythm of its paddling. Its mostly dark plumage and white bill made it conspicuous and easy to follow among the vegetation. Another coot appeared briefly, and we observed them as they foraged for aquatic vegetation and insects.

The American coot has a unique appearance. Described as “chicken-like,” it is a species of rail that makes its home in a variety of wetland types. Its bill, to my mind, gives it a prehistoric appearance; it is short and triangular-shaped, and extends from the middle of its forehead above its eyes. At its base is what is called a “frontal shield,” which is often covered by a reddish-brown callus. Its toes are individually lobed, not fully webbed like a duck’s.

If the adults are odd-looking, the chicks are downright bizarre. One researcher described them as “grotesque.” I cannot do the description justice, so I will include a description from the “Birds of North America” species account:

“Newly hatched coot is covered with thick, black down tipped with bright, stiff, curly, hairlike down feathers … from long and orange … to short and yellow … neck encircled by a ruff of wirelike down feathers … most striking features is nearly bald scarlet crown, forehead, and lores, with blue skin above eyes.”

It truly has to be seen to be believed. For a visual, go to: www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/AmericanCootdtl.html.

Coots tend to exhibit aggressive behavior. They are very territorial and, according to the BNA, are “universally described as quarrelsome and belligerent … more than ready, willing, and able to engage in either ritualized or outright physical conflict with its own or other avian species.”

The account goes on to say that up to four birds may become involved in territorial squabbles at a time, which may become so intense and confusing that mates end up attacking one another. Birds may escape an attacker by diving and swimming away, but “determined combatants have been known to continue fighting even underwater.”

This bird is unreal, I thought to myself as I read this account. Thanks to Ed’s vigilance in spotting them, and encouragement to go see them, I got to see these infamous coots.

NEWS bird columnist Chris Corio can be reached at bdnsports@bangordailynews.net