**Initially I was going to use Camrose Park as my area of interest. After thinking through the timeline I would like to change my research subject to the Coots (Fulica americana) at the Burnaby Lake Regional Park. I believe that an observation study regarding mating will be better suited to this time of year.**
Observation Post: Burnaby Lake Regional Park – Piper Spit and Nature House
This regional park is a known conservation area and popular birding spot. After you cross the railway tracks to the north and the parking lot beside the nature house, there is a gravel pathway that leads pedestrians to a viewing dock. The area of interest is a grassy waterway that opens onto Burnaby Lake. There is a gravel pathway with a few viewing benches and a boardwalk that leads to a dock with a viewing area at the end (about 75m long). I visited on a Saturday morning so there were a lot of pedestrians, families, and photographers out to feed/view the birds. There are quite a few large and mid-sized trees along the waterway that pigeons, crows, and mallards use to roost, however, none of the birds of my interest, the Coot (Fulica americana) were observed roosting in the trees.
There was a pretty dense bird population on this day (probably due to the amount of birdseed being thrown on the ground that morning) and some of the birds observed included the Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynochos), Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula), Wood Duck (Aix sponsa), Domestic Pigeon (Columbidae livia), Canada Goose (Branta canadensis), Crow (Corvus corone), Red Winged Black Bird (Agelaius phoeniceus), various sparrows (unknown species), and the Coots (Fulica americana). The observed species were mainly water birds, with the exception of a few (crows, pigeons, and sparrows).
Even though there was a pretty dense bird population that morning, I only counted approximately 15 Coots out of the hundreds of birds. I will go more into detail about the appearance of these birds in the initial data section, but the hypothesis that I am currently interested in studying is regarding the Coots’ feet. Out of the ~15 birds I observed that morning, their feet ranged from a dull grey to a pastel grey/green. I am interested to know if the upcoming mating season will intensify this colour and if it is an ‘attraction technique”.
