RAS RESEARCH COMMON COOT (Fulica atra)

In 1998 in the context of the RAS-project I fitted Common Coots with a metal ring in the city parks in Arnhem. The ringing work is concentrated in the parks of Sonsbeek and Angerenstein. In total there are tens of breeding pairs. The birds are baited by feeding with bread. At the same time the metal rings are read using a telescope.
From every successful brood normally only (1-4) young become fledglings. But many breeding attempts and second broods do increase the number of young.

Numbers of Common Coots with a ring:

Year Young Adult Adults returned from earlier years
1998 1 1 0

1999 0 23 1

2000 7 6 18

2001 20 15 22

2001 20 15 22

2002 9 8 42

2003 2 7 24

2004 10 6 17

2005 11 10 18

2006 2 10 11

2007 17 23 28

2008 24 18 49

2009 8 10 54

2010 27 31 56
2011 19 46 66

2012 17 45 90
2013 8 31 89
Total ringed 183 289
total colour rings 53 113

Sometimes Common Coots are so tame, that they can be caught by hand, here by Frank Majoor.
© Cor Fikkert.

Jeroen Nagtegaal, Sonsbeek 6-1-2012

Foto: Rob Voesten.

Photo: Gerard Herbers.