Lesson for us about living in harmony - adult Eurasian coot pair in autumn breakfast hunt in clear wetland waters in the midst of adult and juvenile freshwater turtles. One can see how the coot uses its special feet webs to manoeuvre in water
The Eurasian coot (Fulica atra), also known as the common coot, or Australian coot, is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae. It is found in Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and parts of Africa. The Eurasian coot is 32–42 cm long and weighs 585–1,100 g, and is largely black except for the white frontal shield (which gave rise to the phrase as bald as a coot, in use as early as 1430). As a swimming species, the coot has partial webbing on its long strong toes. The juvenile is paler than the adult, has a whitish breast, and lacks the facial shield; the adult black plumage develops when about 3–4 months old, but the white shield is only fully developed at about one year old. This is a noisy bird with a wide repertoire of crackling, explosive, or trumpeting calls, often given at night. The coot breeds across much of the Old World on freshwater lakes and ponds. It occurs and breeds in Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa. The species has recently expanded its range into New Zealand. It is resident in the milder parts of its range, but migrates further south and west from much of Asia in winter as the waters freeze. The Eurasian coot is much less secretive than most of the rail family, and can be seen swimming on open water or walking across waterside grasslands. It is an aggressive species, and strongly territorial during the breeding season, and both parents are involved in territorial defence. During the non-breeding season they may form large flocks, possibly related to predator avoidance.
Freshwater turtles are reptiles with hard shells that protect them from predators. They spend most of their life in the water only coming on land to migrate between water bodies or to nest. Australia is home to about 23 species of freshwater turtle. All but one of these species belong to the family Chelidae, which is found only in Australasia and South America. These ‘side-necked’ turtles retract their head and neck beneath their shell by folding it to one side, rather than drawing their head backwards as most of the world’s species of turtles and tortoises do. Australia is also home to 6 of the 7 species of marine turtle, but lacks the truly land-based tortoises that occur on all other continents except Antarctica. New South Wales is home to 7 species of native freshwater turtle, two of which are found nowhere else. North American species of freshwater turtles like the red-eared slider turtle have also been found in the Sydney region, probably as a result of people releasing imported pets into local waterways. S20N_555
Lesson for us about living in harmony - adult Eurasian coot pair in autumn breakfast hunt in clear wetland waters in the midst of adult and juvenile freshwater turtles. One can see how the coot uses its special feet webs to manoeuvre in water
The Eurasian coot (Fulica atra), also known as the common coot, or Australian coot, is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae. It is found in Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and parts of Africa. The Eurasian coot is 32–42 cm long and weighs 585–1,100 g, and is largely black except for the white frontal shield (which gave rise to the phrase as bald as a coot, in use as early as 1430). As a swimming species, the coot has partial webbing on its long strong toes. The juvenile is paler than the adult, has a whitish breast, and lacks the facial shield; the adult black plumage develops when about 3–4 months old, but the white shield is only fully developed at about one year old. This is a noisy bird with a wide repertoire of crackling, explosive, or trumpeting calls, often given at night. The coot breeds across much of the Old World on freshwater lakes and ponds. It occurs and breeds in Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa. The species has recently expanded its range into New Zealand. It is resident in the milder parts of its range, but migrates further south and west from much of Asia in winter as the waters freeze. The Eurasian coot is much less secretive than most of the rail family, and can be seen swimming on open water or walking across waterside grasslands. It is an aggressive species, and strongly territorial during the breeding season, and both parents are involved in territorial defence. During the non-breeding season they may form large flocks, possibly related to predator avoidance.
Freshwater turtles are reptiles with hard shells that protect them from predators. They spend most of their life in the water only coming on land to migrate between water bodies or to nest. Australia is home to about 23 species of freshwater turtle. All but one of these species belong to the family Chelidae, which is found only in Australasia and South America. These ‘side-necked’ turtles retract their head and neck beneath their shell by folding it to one side, rather than drawing their head backwards as most of the world’s species of turtles and tortoises do. Australia is also home to 6 of the 7 species of marine turtle, but lacks the truly land-based tortoises that occur on all other continents except Antarctica. New South Wales is home to 7 species of native freshwater turtle, two of which are found nowhere else. North American species of freshwater turtles like the red-eared slider turtle have also been found in the Sydney region, probably as a result of people releasing imported pets into local waterways. S20N_555