The question about the numbers of coots came up today on our monthly Lake
Forest Park bird group outing.....we regularly survey Lake Washington from the
LFP Civic Club.

Why does it seem there so many coots compared with other water fowl? Is it that
they "raft up" compared to other species and thus seem more numerous? Is it
that they are not hunted like more tasty ducks and thus their relative numbers
have consequently increased? What does available food supply have to do with
these numbers? Are there any historical data regarding relative numbers?

Roger Olstad
Lake Forest Park

Grant Hendrickson wrote:

> Recently Gene Hunn wrote
>
> "I've been checking the waterfowl action on the north end of Lake Washington
> in Kenmore and Lake Forest Park of late. There's 2000 to 3000 water birds
> here regularly, 95% of which are coots."
>
> At the north end of Lake Sammammish there are hundreds of coots rafted up.
> This occurs each fall. Can anyone help me understand why they form these
> large groups at this time of year?
>
> Grant Hendrickson
> Redmond, WA
> granth at halcyon.com