https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/american-coot
The calls of “Cool Coots” are soothing…
https://macaulaylibrary.org/ click here…
“Coots are tough, adaptable waterbirds. Although they are related to the secretive rails, they swim in the open like ducks and walk about on shore, making themselves at home on golf courses and city park ponds. Usually in flocks, they are aggressive and noisy, making a wide variety of calls by day or night. They have strong legs and big feet with lobed toes, and coots fighting over territorial boundaries will rear up and attack each other with their feet. Often seen walking on open ground near ponds. In taking flight they must patter across the water, flapping their wings furiously, before becoming airborne.”
Here’s a “Cool Coots” silly story from my Birder pal, Mike Schaeffer…
“I used to play golf in Pacific Grove
The course was frequented by older gentleman
The course was also inhabited by hundreds of coots
The coots made a mess on the course so the maintenance folks would shoot rounds to scare them away
A tourist asked me what they were shooting at
When I said they were scaring the coots away
She looked with horror at the old guys golfing
And thought they were shooting at the “old coots.”
Boulder Beach Bumming…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boulder_City,_Nevada
Judy and I drove out to Boulder City yesterday to explore the beauty of Nevada. We love to feel nature’s gifts. City life is not for us…
Old Town Boulder City was a treat and neat escape. The crazy freeways, streets, angry drivers, noises and everything else makes us crazy too.
We love small towns and villages in rural places. Boulder City & Blue Diamond are like that. Las Vegas, not so much…
Old Town tells a story of love, hard work, passion, and tough living. “Ragtown” was a name coined when Hoover Dam was built long ago. Boulder City was a tent community at first, as the town came to life during the Great Depression…
We hung out in Old Town for awhile. This is the kind of town where the best tacos can be found. People stroll along enjoying the character of a town that has its roots in community building and family…
We did have the best tacos ever for lunch too! Our server said, as we got up to head down to Boulder Beach, “aint no tacos like this no where!” We smiled and agreed…
Beach Bumming and “Cool Coots…”
Best part of the day was hanging out for awhile at the beach. The weather was just right, 70s, balmy winds and bright sun made us feel whole…
While filming and panning the lake, I noticed a flock of waterfowl. Are they ducks? Kinda looked like Scooters on the Oregon Coast. I loved watching and filming the Coots while they played, fed, and dived together as a family…
We hope you love learning about Boulder City, Lake Mead and “Cool Coots” as much as we did…
Children and Families in Life After Trauma
