American Coots Take Flight at Merced Wildlife Refuge

by Brian Tada

Title

American Coots Take Flight at Merced Wildlife Refuge

Artist

Brian Tada

Medium

Photograph - Digital Photograph

Description

Three American coots (Fulica americana) make a dramatic statement as they take flight from a winter pond at Merced National Wildlife Refuge in central California, February 2019. Note how high the water droplets elevate in the wake from the middle bird.

Also known as a water hen or pouldeau, American coots are members of the rail family. They are widely distributed throughout much of the North American continent, and are year-round residents in the Pacific west and south-southwestern United States and Mexico.

Pairs stay together for life and they typically build floating nests. Each clutch averages up to 8 or more eggs. The curiously vibrant precocious young can swim just hours after hatching, and can fly within 5-6 weeks. Life expectancy is typically nine years in the wild, with the oldest documented coot having lived 22 years.

When preparing to take flight, they beat their wings and move their legs furiously, kicking up waves while using the surface of the water as a runway to become airborne. It is quite an impressive sight to see when this happens!

“And God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind; and God saw that it was good. “
~ Genesis 1:21

*****

Special Recognition:

Giving God the glory this image was nominated by a fellow artist as a Special Feature in the Camera Art Group.

*****

Giving thanks to God and grateful to the group administrator(s) for kindly featuring this wildlife action image in the following Fine Art America group(s):

* 10 PLUS, 11.02.21
* WHAT'S NEW, 11.02.21
* ANIMAL PHOTOGRAPHS, 11.02.21
* BEAUTIFUL BIRDS, 11.02.21
* FINE ART AMERICA PROFESSIONALS, 11.02.21
* FAA GALLERY HOME FOR ALL ARTISTS WHO CREATE, 11.04.21
* THE WORLD WE SEE, 11.04.21
* YOUR STORY OF ART, 11.04.21
* WISCONSIN FLOWERS AND SCENERY, 11.04.21
* THE TOP 50 FEATURES, 11.06.21
* NEW FAA UPLOADS LIMIT ONE PER DAY, 11.06.21
* USA PHOTOGRAPHERS, 11.07.21
* COASTAL WATER BIRDS ~ SHORE BIRDS, 11.08.21
* JUST PERFECT, 11.16.21
* DAILY PROMOTION, 11.16.21
* ART ~ IT IS GOOD FOR YOU, 11.22.21
* A BEAUTIFUL BLUE - NATURE ONLY, 11.30.21
* CAMERA ART, 01.30.22

*****

Artwork notes:

The "Fine Art America" watermark in the full resolution preview will not show in the final print/product purchased.

Embedded in the top right-hand corner is the Hebrew acronym for "B'ezras Hashem" [ ב ס " ד ] meaning "with God's help". It is a reminder to me as an artist of my dependence on the Almighty, the Originator of all creativity. This is a similar acknowledgement used by great artists like Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel who signed their work with the Latin phrase, "Soli Deo gloria" which means, "Glory to God alone".

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org

Photo and description copyright © 2020 Brian Tada. To the glory of God. All rights reserved. Downloading, distributing, displaying online and/or altering this image without the express written permission of the photographer/artist is prohibited.

bit.ly/AmericanCoots

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November 1st, 2021

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