Coot feeds her young. Which one of the three, you see her thinking. This coot has just hatched eight eggs! How many youngsters will stay alive?
The coot (Fulica atra) belongs to the family of rallen, coots and moorhens (Rallidae) and the genus koeten (Fulica).
The coot dives a lot, especially when looking for aquatic plants. He doesn't like to fly, he prefers to run over the water. Also when ascending out of the water, you first have to run for a while. However, when migrating, which usually takes place at night, it can travel long distances.
The coot is an omnivore, which mainly feeds on aquatic plants, molluscs and water insects. Seeds, grass and berries are also eaten. The coot is monogamous.
The nest is built on the waterfront from reed and water plants, but also from floating waste such as pieces of paper or plastic. In a nest, 5 to 10 grey-white to sand-coloured eggs with brown-black spots and dots are hatched in a period of 21 to 25 days. The youngsters are accompanied by both parents and can fly after about 8 weeks. If only a single chick survives from a nest or even none (because the chicks are a sought-after prey for herons, gulls and pike), then the parents make a next attempt. Per breeding season the parents make 2 to 3 attempts to raise a nest of young. On average, a coot becomes ten years old.
I like to take pictures of nature and landscapes. Travelling is my passion. I also like to occasionally apply in photoshop effects, or create new designs, thus creating digital art. Also art and culture in other countries have my interest. I created many albums in my shop: panoramas,.. Read more…