Post by nickinthegarden on Jun 24, 2024 11:51:31 GMT -8
I was at Jackman Wetlands this morning just over the border into Langley. The park is getting smaller all the time; half of it became a playground for those people who play disk golf. The large pond in the south seems to be shrinking in size because the property to the south is filling in the pond which is pushing up the water level. No sign of Beavers, Otters or coyotes and the waterfowl are much fewer. The marshy pond on the northwest side actually still has some water in it and this morning I saw 2 American Coots and one small baby who was actively feeding among the reeds and bushes. The center ponds had a couple Pied-billed Grebe there but no chicks and there was a very large flock of 15 young juvenile Canada Geese with two adult Geese.
This is the first time I have ever come across baby Coots in the Fraser Valley; I have seen them in the interior. I just assume that when the Coots left the local ponds in the spring they were headed north to breed. Why did this pair stay and have a chick here? With year after year of forest fires perhaps some waterfowl have decided it is no longer safer to leave their winter grounds to breed in an area that may become so dangerous. I have noted at places locally a few waterfowl who should have gone north but did not. Thoughts?
Surprised! by Nick, on Flickr
This is the first time I have ever come across baby Coots in the Fraser Valley; I have seen them in the interior. I just assume that when the Coots left the local ponds in the spring they were headed north to breed. Why did this pair stay and have a chick here? With year after year of forest fires perhaps some waterfowl have decided it is no longer safer to leave their winter grounds to breed in an area that may become so dangerous. I have noted at places locally a few waterfowl who should have gone north but did not. Thoughts?
Surprised! by Nick, on Flickr