American Coot (cootling) - Fulica americana
I met some friends over in Sierra Valley this week, and we spotted this juvenile American Coot near the Steel Bridge! It was SO wildly colored and feathered! Its wispy, long, orange and yellow, downy feathers looked like a dyed feather boa! And its bright-pink, bald head and orange bill added to its overall "flamboyance"! What a cute, colorful surprise to find in the wetlands!
American Coot (cootling - adult) - Fulica americana
An adult Coot was diving repeatedly and surfacing with plants to feed the juvenile Coot or "cootling"! Both male and female parents feed the young coots. Since they are sexually monomorphic, I couldn't tell if this was a male or female Coot. American Coots are not ducks. They are rails, and belong in the Rallidae family.
American Coot (cootling - adult) - Fulica americana
American Coots make floating nests out of tules and other dry vegetation, that are anchored to standing aquatic vegetation (cattails, tules etc.) in wetlands. The female lays 8-12 eggs, which both parents incubate for up to 23 days. The newly hatched Coots are precocial, and can swim and dive. They can also self-feed, but mainly rely on their parents to feed them for their first 30 days. They feed mainly on aquatic vegetation and algae, aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates, and grains. It will take them two months before they can fly, and are independent. Both parents care for the cootlings!
Canada Geese - 5/29/22 (2 goslings - adult) - Branta canadensis
Every year at least two mated couples of Canada Geese raise their young in our neighborhood. This year I've seen one adult with two goslings, three adults with two goslings, and two adults with no goslings! I'm sure there are three separate stories to tell why these three families are different, but I can only guess. The one adult with two goslings probably lost its mate (they mate for life) to a predator. The three adults with two goslings, must be a mated pair and perhaps a related adult. The mated pair without goslings, may have lost their goslings to a predator. Interestingly, I never saw any of the goslings when they were small, yellow and fuzzy this year. The first ones I saw are pictured above, and were probably a month or two old. Maybe it was snowing when the goslings were young? Anyway, it's been a different year for the Canada Geese!
Canada Geese - (2 goslings per family - adults) - Branta canadensis
I just saw the Canada Goose adult with two goslings a few days ago, and was astounded how big they've gotten! They're growing so fast! I came across the family of three adults and two goslings on the shoulder of the highway about 10 days ago.
Canada Geese are very protective of their offspring. I never see the goslings without their parents. In fact, goslings will stay with their parents for their entire first year. It amazes me that they aren't all eaten by foxes or mountain lions. They must be some tough defenders of their offspring!
Canada Geese (4 goslings - adults) - Branta canadensis
I've been promising to update you on the local ponds for a while now, so here's the update! At the Charles Marsh Pond, the only waterfowl present are a pair of Canada Geese and their four goslings (pictured above). Unfortunately, a house located on the shore of this pond is the home to at least one young boy who now kayaks in the pond. This is probably why there isn't a variety of waterfowl present anymore. Rats!
Wood Duck (female - 2 ducklings) - Aix sponsa
I was delighted to see a female Wood Duck at one of the ponds at Joubert's Diggins! She had three ducklings, but one ducked for the above photo. The ducklings are born precocial. They chiefly eat invertebrates for their first 2-3 weeks, then gradually change to plant foods as they grow older. They will usually stay with their mother for 8 weeks, until they can fly.
Wood Duck (male) - Aix sponsa
On another day I saw the whole family, including the gorgeous, colorful male!
Mallards (6 ducklings - female) - Anas platyrhynchos
There was also a family of Mallards at Joubert's Diggins! Only female Mallards care for the ducklings, which are born precocial. The ducklings eat mostly invertebrates, small crustacea, mollusks, and fish eggs. They mostly catch invertebrates on the water surface or on land. They will stay with their mother until they can fly, approximately 50 days.
Common Mergansers (8 ducklings - female) - Mergus merganser
On the river, the Common Merganser and her 8 ducklings are doing fine! They are getting bigger, but not as quickly as the Canada Geese! Ducklings eat mostly aquatic invertebrates, but switch to fish when approximately 12 days old. They will become independent in 60-75 days when they can fly. Only the female Mergansers care for the young.
Common Mergansers (8 ducklings - female) - Mergus merganser
It looked like the momma Merganser was keeping watch, while her 8 ducklings took a nap! I never tire of seeing them on the river! So delightful!
Incense Cedar in the recent Rain!
It poured!
Last weekend, the weather forecast was for 1/10 to 1/25 of an inch of rainfall. Instead, we had a downpour for several hours, resulting in 2 whole inches of rainfall! WOW!!! What a gift! I was out in our greenhouse when it happened and the sound on the roof, and the fragrance in the air was magical! I was mesmerized! And, it's raining again today! Yahoo!
Here's a 6 second video of the downpour! Enjoy!
Damp Earth Art
Hopefully more storms will keep coming. Please join me in my continuing hope for precipitation! Perhaps our collective efforts may help it happen.
I'm going to keep posting rain inspired writings, art, etc. on my blog at dampearthart.blogspot.com. Any submissions would be greatly appreciated.
Wishing for peace in Ukraine and
an immediate end to this senseless war!
Sierra Buttes 6/18/22
What's happening in the Lakes Basin?
Where do all the songbirds in my neighborhood overwinter?
Check back next week for the answers to these questions and more!
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Your questions and comments are greatly appreciated. Please feel free to email me at northyubanaturalist@gmail.com. Thanks!
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