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For over 20 years, I've volunteered at Brazos Bend State Park--almost every week. During that time, I learned a lot about wildlife there, and at other places. Once digital
cameras became affordable (for me), I started taking pictures of what I saw. By now (Year 2025), I've gathered thousands of images and hundreds of video clips.
I've used many of those on this website. Recently, I realized that although I'd captured images of Gallinules and Coots--I hadn't really put many of them onto
the website. So I started this page; first by moving the images I've already shared on other pages. I've grouped these species together because they are very close
in size and shape--and behavior. The physical differences are easy to see when they are next to each other...like on a web page. I expect to show these three species
on this page: American Coot (Fulica americana), Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) and, Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica)  R. Dashnau 1/28/2025

01/24/2025 A very cold front left snow in the area on Jan. 21st. When I visited Fiorenza Park on Jan. 24th, the snow and freezing temperatures were
gone. American Coots are among the many birds that live in the 360-acre park.  I watched them feeding on dead fish which had probably died during the freeze. I've
observed Coots feeding many times here-and at other parks-and have always seen them eating plant matter, such as seeds or algae.


I was surprised to see the Coots searching for, and then eating, fish carcasses.   Some of the images here are frames from this edited video.


From BBSP on 06/05/2022  and 07/03/2022  The water level drop in Pilant Lake has affected all kinds of things. On 6/05, this Little Blue Heron was foraging for small prey.  Meanwhile,
 various birds foraged around it, including some Common Gallinules. I've seen various birds forage near Gallinules (and their chicks) without alarming the Gallinules. Today, the
Gallinules weren't so indifferent, and they chased the Heron away. For a second, the Heron seemed a bit surprised at the challenge from the Gallinules. The video is here(mp4).
   

   

I noticed the chicks walking on the mud, but they were too far away to photograph. I've been curious about watching Gallinules using their long toes to distribute their weight over various
substrates. On 7/03, I was able to get a close look at Gallinule walking on the mud in Pilant Lake.  The video of this one walking, and the others chasing the Little Blue Heron are in a video
and the video is here(mp4). The images above are frames from the video.  There are more images and more detailed examination on one of my ichnology pages.

10/31/2021  I had a busy day, because a lot was going on by the Observation Tower that day.  For now, I also have this mystery to share:
9:00am I was near the Observation Tower, facing North, and talking to a visitor. Sudden commotion to my right caught my attention. From the corner of my eye, it seemed like a typical "disagreement"
between gallinules  and/or coots.  If you haven't visited the park, then try to imagine being surrounded by the sounds of various birds calling and splashing all around you. Not every day at BBSP is
 like that, but today, the birds were active. After a while, one stops turning to investigate every little commotion--because they are everywhere. This time, there was some gallinule calls, and splashing.
When I turned full attention towards it, I was able to see just the ending. I had the impression of something large at the surface (of course, I thought "gator"),  but then the event was over. 
When the water became still, all that remained was a single Common gallinule (Gallinula chloropus).  It was obvious that the bird had been attacked by something. It did not float as gallinules usually do. 
It was in the deeper water, centered between the tower and the island.  It began swimming towards the tower. 
   

But it remained mostly submerged, and so did not move properly-using its wings to "breast-stroke" slowly  through the water instead of paddling on the surface. I scanned the water around it. If an
 alligator had attacked the bird, I expected at least to see one surface nearby.  No alligator appeared near the gallinule.  It was also strange that whatever had attacked the gallinule did not return
to attack the bird while it moved slowly towards us.  My only other guess is a large fish-perhaps a gar-had attacked it.  Although it wasn't floating or swimming properly, the gallinule didn't act
stressed or frantic. I shot video while the gallinule was swimming to show its condition.  That video is here.
   

In any case, the gallinule eventually made it to the branches of a small snag under the Oak Tree. It rested there, and I moved off to another part of the trail--but where I could still watch the branches.
I walked over to check a few times, and the gallinule had climbed partially onto a branch--but it never stood up. I'd hoped it would recover, dry off, preen, and swim away.  It didn't do any of that.
I stayed away from it, and didn't mention it to visitors, hoping to avoid stressing the gallinule. If someone noticed gallinule and asked about it, then I explained what had happened. I never took any
pictures of the gallinule among the branches--mostly because among the branches it was pretty hard to see.   After some hours, I checked on the gallinule one last time, and saw it floating upside down.
It had apparently died.

11/10/2019 (uploaded 2/04/2025)  At Brazos Bend State Park, this American Coot burst into a water-surface run from a floating position. The images are frames from a video, and
the video is here.
   

   

07/01/2018  This is a pair of Common Gallinule (sometimes called Moorhens) with chicks.  The young chicks look interesting with their claw like, undeveloped wings. The images below
are frame grabs from this video clip showing an adult with chicks.  Notice the really, really long toes, which help them move over plants and mud without sinking.   
 

            COMMON GALLINULE CHICK

(uploaded 2/01/2025)  This conflict at Fiorenza Park had started before I found it. The video was filmed at 480fps and slowed 16X. I have often seen Coots chase each
other, but this was the first time I'd seen them slapping each other with their feet. I've seen Common Gallinules fight this way once in 2011.   Another Coot joined in the fight in
progress. But the target Coot didn't seem to care. Those amazing wide toes, great for swimming, are apparently useful for slapping, too. Just 50 seconds later, one of the Coots had
left. After the last face-off,  the remaining 2 also left. This camera captures 2 seconds at 480fps. There was a pause as the video was written to storage before I could record the next 2
seconds. This leaves gaps in recorded events. The video is here.
   

(uploaded 2/01/2025)  Another example of a Coot taking off and running across the water surface; filmed at 480fps and slowed 16X. In this case, the Coot launched and--
supported also by wings--seemed to start out with just the tips of its toes grabbing the water. The Coot's body was clear of the water.   The feet started out making large wide splashes,
with no "secondary" plumes. As the run continued, the Coots feet sunk further into the water. This generated the secondary water plumes a step behind the coot.  Wonderful view! For
 short distances, this combined flight/run is probably more efficient than taking off into full-flight and landing a short distance away. The video is here.
   

(uploaded 1/31/2025)  Here's a slow motion view (slowed 16X) of an American Coot taking off and running across the surface of a lake.  I think the plumes erupting
behind the Coot as it runs were from water rushing into voids produced by the footsteps. (Imagine a lot of small people doing "cannonballs" into the water.) The video is here.
   

April 12 and 26 and May 3, 2015 (These are photos I shot in 2015, but I'm posting them today, 10/18/2019.) These are various shots of the very pretty bird species, the Purple Gallinule
(Porphyrula martinica).  

The short video of the fight is visible here.
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The Coot moved closer. It seemed to be comfortable with me standing on the bridge--although it did still check on me. The Coot seemed to be looking through the water to search for food
down at the bottom-and then dived for it.  It bobbed right back up. Note how the feathers repelled the water as it Coot carried another large mass of algae. The Coot shook the droplets off. Watch
how its feet push straight down and help lift its body out of the water.  I left the Coot as it continued to graze. The edited video is here. 

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11/08/2009 (uploaded 1/30/2025)-- When the water is high, and open, the Coots form huge mats. They swim together, but sometimes-instead of swimming, or flying-they run to the
next point of interest. Instead of all running together, the Coots run in smaller groups. When the first group starts, it's a good chance to anticipate the next one.  So I was ready to
follow a few of the Coots as they ran across. 
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10/15/2006 (uploaded 1/29/2025)--I found this group of American Coots standing on the 40 Acre Lake Trail. When I walked closer, the Coots didn't move. I stepped a little closer, and
 they still didn't move...until the entire flock suddenly ran/flew (as Coots do) into the lake. I wondered why the Coots seemed reluctant to move into the lake.  And then I noticed the
alligator in the water--holding the carcass of a Coot. The rest of the story is on one of my alligator pages.
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01/01/2010 Although it's rare, sometimes it gets cold enough for ice to form on the lakes at BBSP.  This was one of those times. I got just one short clip of these Moorhens walking on
a frozen spot on one of the lakes.  The image below is a frame grab from the clip. The clip can be seen here (wmv 12.0 mb).
 

May 15, 2004; I took this picture of the Purple Gallinule just because they have such brilliant colors (see Purple Gallinule, below).
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                                                         PURPLE GALLINULE