Animal Magic

COOTS are one of the most defensive birds on the pond with vicious fighting over nesting territory breaking out every few moments.

Their young chicks are fluffy with fire coloured red and yellow colours around their neck and head.

They will apparently kill some of their own chicks in times of food shortage.

But they are a familiar black bird of our lakes, ponds and rivers. The coot is widespread; look out for its large and untidy-looking nest on the water in spring. The coot can be distinguished from the similar moorhen by its white beak and ‘shield’, and its entirely black body.