No more Coots?

Amoeba · #1 (**permalink**) 03-10-2009, 08:08 AM

On the canal near where I live there used to be many coots, but now they're all gone and there haven't been any for a couple of years. I occasionally see them in other places around the city but they're much less common than they used to be. Could anything have caused a decline in coots? Has anyone else noticed a decline? I live in Edinburgh, I don't know if location is significant.

Lensman400 · #2 (**permalink**) 03-10-2009, 08:26 AM

Here in Lancashire they appear to be quite prolific. In my town park lake there have been at least two nests that, despite dogs and vandals, have managed to rear several young.

Amoeba · #3 (**permalink**) 03-10-2009, 08:57 AM

It's good to hear they're thriving in other places. I wonder why they're disappearing from here?

AshLee · #4 (**permalink**) 03-10-2009, 12:23 PM

More coots than anything else on the lakes and gravel pits in my area

aeshna5 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-10-2009, 05:41 PM

Nationally they are doing very well. In London every lake has some- aquatic vegetation is important to them.

Last weekend at a local site to me- Ruislip Lido- I counted 275 Coots.

Amoeba · #6 (**permalink**) 04-10-2009, 07:41 AM

As glad as I am to hear they're doing fine elsewhere, it just makes it all the more puzzling as to why I haven't seen one here in years.

It seems moorhens are just as common as ever, but the coots... I don't know where they've gone.

Amoeba · #7 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 07:08 AM

Anyone got any ideas about this?

AshLee · #8 (**permalink**) 07-10-2009, 10:38 AM

Predation? Destruction of habitat? Disease?

Possibly predators are doing well this year.

Amoeba · #9 (**permalink**) 08-10-2009, 06:42 AM

I don't know - don't think so, nothing has really changed. The other birds are all doing well, I can't think why coots have been singled out. That's what makes it so puzzling, if there had been a major change in the environment or other similar birds seemed to be struggling I might think that was the reason but that doesn't seem to be the case. Also, there's very few - if any - predators around here... maybe the odd fox. No birds of prey, not even buzzards come this far into town.

Disease is the only thing that seems plausible but is there any way of being able to tell that's the cause?

Markulous · #10 (**permalink**) 08-10-2009, 08:58 AM

Plenty here - I do enjoy them too as they're forever busy building/rebuilding their nests

Well, I guess it would have to be predation, disease or food (lack of). Has the canal got any weed covering (so preventing their weed growth)? How are the Moorhens (don't they remove others' young?)?