>Can anyone supply information on where to start looking for references, or
>perhaps suggest the name of a person or persons who specialize in the behavior
>of these two species?

Neither of these species has been published yet in the Birds of North
America series, but when they are, that would be the place to look. I
would look in the Bent Life Histories volumes, if she hasn't. It's amazing
how much "new information" one finds that was published many decades ago in
Bent. Pertinent avocet references are listed in my shorebird book
(browsable at the University Book Store if she doesn't have a copy), but I
don't know where to find coot stuff, other than to look in the yearly
indices of the major ornithological journals.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone 206-756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax 206-756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416