In the shimmering sunlight the waterfoul have been scooting up and down the canal, dashing in and out of the hedgerows and generally getting frisky for spring. I witnessed my first War of the Coots yesterday and was taken aback by what I saw. As two charcoal-black Coots spread their rear feathers like Peacocks they circled and charged each other. Head to head, they both rose from the water, resting on their rear plumes and whacked at their opponents chest with their large, feathered feet, causing a great splash. In a few flurried seconds it appeared to be over until another Coot in the area ended up somehow involved and took a dive for it's life to the reedbed, off away from the violence.
It is fascinating to see the aggression in these animals. And when it comes to mating, goodness me, it is possible to witness the killing of their fellow kind. This happened last year when there was an abundance of splashing and banging around on the canal and I saw a Mallard purposefully drown a female. She was bobbing upside down along the Coventry canal the next few days.
Thus, things are not all sweetness and roses in the world of waterfoul. This doesn't distract from the joy's that can be had watching the nature of these creatures, run, fly and swim.
No comments:
Post a Comment