Coots In a Hurry to Build Nests

Coots are water birds. They spend more of their time in the water than out of it. They are mostly seen in lakes, rivers, lagoons or big ponds. Coots dive underwater to find food. They feed on aquatic plants such as duckweed, much algae and grasses, and small invertebrates like snails and larvae at the bottom of the lake, pond or river. When they venture in the grassy parts of the park of nature reserves or gardens, they will feed on grass and soft seeds. Coots will also eat bird seeds which are nutritious. Coots produce two broods per breeding season, which is from March to July. A lot of work as parents if you ask me, especially as they have to build nests on which to incubate the eggs for 21-26 days. The newly hatched baby coots will then have to be brooded in the nest for four days or so. As nests are very important, imagine how coots must be super-busy building nests. Their nests are built mostly in shallow waters, on floating vegetation, tree stumps even, or in this instance, in the vegetations on islands in lakes such as the Pontefract lake where this video footages and photo stills have been taken. For nest materials, coots use twigs, leaves, bark, roots and reeds. It’s a bulky nest to be sure. Watch how the coots appear super-busy eating grass on the lakeside and at the same time, looking for nest materials.