On this cloudy but balmy morning in central Missouri, I made a brief visit to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area. There I encountered the usual mix of summer wildlife but also found a single American coot.
During migrations, especially in April and October, thousands of coot descend on this Missouri River refuge; during those events, one must estimate their numbers and birders rarely, if ever, focus on single individuals. To come across the lone coot was thus a bit of a surprise and I stopped to watch as it foraged in a shallow marsh, diving intermittently but mostly just floating along the edge of the duck weed.
In many ways, this experience reflected how many of us interact with fellow humans. I had initially labeled this post "The Lonesome Coot" but then considered the fact that it may not be lonely at all; perhaps, like many humans, it relishes solitude. After all, many of us are not enamored with human crowds, finding that individuals are far more interesting. Massive avian flocks and human throngs may produce memorable spectacles but personal interactions are usually more rewarding.
