missing coots!!

[David McDonald personal <>]

Coots have been almost totally absent from the Bungendore wastewater treatment plant for many months.

David

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On 31 Oct 2016, at 12:10 PM, Julie Clark <> wrote:

Hi All,

In a similar vein, I surveyed Dickson, North Watson and Casey Wetlands, as well as Forde and Yerrabi Ponds on the weekend.

Coots were present at Casey, North Watson and Forde, with evidence of breeding at each of those locations, although numbers were still relatively small.

•  Casey - a brood of 8 very young chicks as well as another of 4 older juveniles + 4 adults - total 16 Coots (good photo opportunities or just a closer look.

Casey was the only location where I saw Swamphen juveniles (2).

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32275844

• North Watson - what appeared to be a new brood of 6 chicks, as well as older broods 4 + 3 ...total 17 coots

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32272573

• Forde  - one brood of 3 young chicks, as well as two other broods 2+ 1  .. total 10 Coots

Interestingly, the parent of the 3 chicks attacked a swamphen as I was passing. At that stage I hadn't seen the chicks (in the reeds), at which time the chicks all start swimming toward the parent, making a loud fuss!

Also at Forde was the only evidence I saw of Dusky Moorhen breeding - 1 juvenile.

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32288167

Yerrabi Pond was completely devoid of Coots and I only saw 4 Swamphens. Interestingly there were 16 Dusky Moorhens, but I didn't see any evidence of breeding. The most prolific bird here was the Black Swan - total 19, which included 2 smaller cygnets & 7 larger ones.

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32275842

Dickson was also devoid of Coots, but topped the duck count ....

• Wood Ducks - 33 which include 21 very small ducklings ... oh so cute until scared by a dog 'off the lead', as well as 4 larger ones
• Pacific Black Ducks - total - 14 of which 9 were ducklings

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32272522

Some good viewing/photo opportunities at these smaller ponds/wetlands.

Apostlebird still present at Watson ...was determined to dice with death and continually walked across the road chattering as it went!

m("N08/30569380231/in/dateposted-public/","//www.flickr.com/photos/140414659");">https:

Cheers

Julie

On Mon, Oct 31, 2016 at 10:29 AM, John Harris <> wrote:

Many of us have observed the absence of coots in the ACT, particularly here in the north where I once estimated the coots in Yerrabi pond at 1000+ and now sometimes closer to zero. The presumption is that they are responding to the recent inland flooding and breeding there. This raises the question of whether we need another El Ninjo  in order for them to seek the watered safety of Canberra. Having said that my other observation is that ALL of those I have seen this week were breeding. I did not go to Yerrabi but there are three pairs with chicks in Gungahlin Pond and for those who wish to see them, easier to find are the two breeding pairs with chicks in The Valley Ponds. 

From: Wayne Gregson <>
Date: Monday, 31 October 2016 at 10:13 AM
To: chatline <m("canberrabirds.org.au","canberrabirds");" target="_blank">org.au>
Subject: [canberrabirds] missing coots!!

Peter Roberts down  at Merimbula reports that – very unusually - there are no coots to be seen at the Panboola reserve on the outskirts of Pambula.

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Julie Clark