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April 1st, 2004  Sitting Coots ‘A man who fires at a sitting bird is known to be no sportsman.’ I always thought a ‘sitting duck’ was just a way to express the notion that something becomes an easy target when caught in the open. I never realized ducks in particular ended up in such predicaments. After watching a recent drama unfold - I’m wondering if the saying could just as easily have been ‘sitting coots.' Although Coots are not even closely related to ducks - these ones certainly became "sitting ducks." Early Sunday morning I parked my van near the tourist booth in 100 Mile House. Stepped forth, and was greeted by a strong, steady, and cold easterly wind. I planned to walk the northern perimeter of the marsh watching and listening for any bird life then continue down to the arena and eventually the grassy side of the airport. There was little life on the still-frozen marsh save for four Trumpeter Swans asleep on the ice. They looked like bulky laundry sacks with white hoses for drawstrings. Ahead of me, I thought I caught the sound of a Meadowlark carried by the wind, but couldn’t be sure. As I neared the hockey arena, I sighted several Mule deer moving through the poplar trees just across the airport tarmac. There were four in the group, two does and two last-year’s fawns. One by one they leapt over, or crawled through, the barbed wire fence. I stood and watched them cross the asphalt landing strip and noted the regal bearing of the lead doe. As I watched, an emphatic jolt of yellow struck my eye. It was a Western Meadowlark some distance down the airstrip in a ruddy twigged rose bush, the colour of which seemed to amplify the yellow hue of the Meadowlark. With the doe deer out front, the Meadowlark in a red bush, and all the backdrop consisting of dry grass I thought momentarily that this could be a scene from Africa. The deer would be a Gazelle, the Meadowlark, a Longclaw, and the grassy plain behind the Veldt. My reverie ended quickly as I realized how cold I was getting. Though warmly dressed with a pack across my back to deflect the breeze I was uncomfortably chilled. I looked about for options and realized that because this was Sunday, the hockey arena would be open and likely the concession stand would be serving hot beverages. It was! I took shelter inside, sipped a cup of coffee and watched another dozen Mule Deer cross the airport from my windproof location. Somewhat warmed I headed out and down the airstrip. Several Robins grudgingly moved into the trees as I shuffled through the deep grass intent on looking out on the flooded fields at the end of the airport. A Meadowlark, probably the one I’d previously seen, flew overhead and landed in the top of a poplar tree. I turned my attention to the area at the end of the airport where I saw two Bald Eagles circling over the flooded fields. One Eagle was mature with a white head and tail, the other Eagle was immature with mottled brown plumage. At first I thought the Eagles were flying about aimlessly but it became obvious that they were intentionally harassing a flock of 6 Coots that scurried about in the only open water on the frozen field. The Eagles took turns diving down toward the Coots. Because there was absolutely no cover the Coots’ only evasive maneuver was to attempt a dive. Unfortunately the water was only about a foot deep. During one dive, the mature Eagle sensed that the time was right and dropped down on top of the 6 Coots. Five panicked Coots swam from under the giant bird. One did not. The Eagle sat belly-deep in the choppy gray waves. At one point it dipped its beak into the water as if to check that it had indeed captured something but seemed to change its mind and simply sat where it was. I imagine that the submerged and tightly clutched coot was either drowning or being asphyxiated by the Eagles feet. About half a minute went by. The Eagle launched itself into the air with a dead Coot hanging from its feet. The immature Eagle, which until this time had been flying around the immediate area, now flew at the mature bird. When it drew near the wheeling adult, the immature Eagle reached out and neatly pulled the coot from the adult bird's talons. The immature Eagle headed straight for the cover of a nearby poplar to consume its stolen prize. The adult Eagle seemed a little dazed at losing its prey but did not pursue the thief. Instead it circled and dropped back into the open water of the flooded field right where it had captured the coot. It stood for a moment as if assessing the situation. Then with ponderous wings flapping it lifted off from the watery perch and circled around to line up on the 5 Coots that still shared the exposed open water. Again the Eagle dropped onto the flock of Coots. Four Coots emerged flapping furiously to get away from the Eagle. Again the Eagle stood belly-deep in the cold waves. Thirty seconds went by and the Eagle, either sure that his prey would not give him any resistance, or suffering from cold feet, leapt into the air and began to fly toward the poplar grove. It flew about 80 feet then either glanced at its feet or sensed a curious lightness in its talons. The Coot that the Eagle thought it was carting off, bobbed to the top of the water and began swimming toward the remaining flock. The empty-taloned Eagle turned sharply and again dropped onto the hapless coot. This time the Eagle made sure that it had its prize. After another minute of standing in water it flew off in the general direction of the immature eagle. I was not alone in watching this series of events. A dozen mesmerized Trumpeter Swans stood at the edge of the field while a flock of about 20 Wigeon wheeled continuously over the killing field. The four remaining Coots made no attempt to leave the exposed stretch of water. I was incredulous. Had another few Eagles happened by I’m sure they could have winnowed the remaining Coot numbers down to zero. I walked away leaving the four Coots bobbing in the waves. I guess when you’re a sitting duck - you know it and play your role. What else would explain this behavior? To e-mail Tom CLICK HERE To look at previous column CLICK HERE |
