Outside the breeding season, particularly in winter, they gather together in sometimes huge groups for protection and socializing. Groups of coots are called covers or rafts. —Wikipedia
I wondered why so many coots gathered together. I have seen large groups feeding on both land and water, but never packed so tightly as this.
It has occurred to me since that I had spotted an eagle earlier, but gave it little thought as it was flying away from me when I saw it. I know coots are a staple of their diet for hawks and eagles. Could this have been a protective maneuver on the part of the coots?
Posted by Richard Hahn on February 16, 2012 at 10:55 PM
Phil,
While I do not have an answer for you I did see this behavior tonight when I was watching a series on the Miss. River. There were eagles flying around and a large group of coots were together. Needless to say the eagles had their pick to eat. So I think it may be as you said a protective maneuver.
Posted by Peter May on February 17, 2012 at 10:08 AM
Google selfish herd. Dense flocking and herding behavior has long been explained by evolutionary biologists as an anti-predator mechanism. According to this model, grouping in tight formations reduces the chance of any one individual being the victim of a predator. A corollary of the model is that it's better to be on the inside of the group than on the periphery. Although it manifests as a coordinated group activity, selection is acting on each individual to maximize his/her own survival, regardless of the rest of the flock/herd. Hence a selfish herd.
Posted by Jim Hansen on February 18, 2012 at 1:37 AM
The only time I ever saw this, there was one coot that didn't make it into the group and I watched a bald eagle swoop down and grab it. This was on my lunch hour from work and it was fun telling my colleagues about it after lunch.
Posted by Dan Borzynski on March 8, 2012 at 11:27 PM
I just saw this behavior down in Florida, with lots of alligators. I'm guessing that at least for alligators/crocodiles, it may make the birds look a lot bigger than the predators. Of course, that assumes that the reptile's eyesight isn't good enough to separate individual birds and they are more generally just seeing something that is bigger than they are.
Discussion
4 repliesI wondered why so many coots gathered together. I have seen large groups feeding on both land and water, but never packed so tightly as this.
It has occurred to me since that I had spotted an eagle earlier, but gave it little thought as it was flying away from me when I saw it. I know coots are a staple of their diet for hawks and eagles. Could this have been a protective maneuver on the part of the coots?
While I do not have an answer for you I did see this behavior tonight when I was watching a series on the Miss. River. There were eagles flying around and a large group of coots were together. Needless to say the eagles had their pick to eat. So I think it may be as you said a protective maneuver.