On Course With Nature Coexisting With Coots Doing what is right is not diffi cult and doesn’t cost all that much. BY JOELLEN LAMPMAN

also dig holes that needed to be sanded and reseeded daily. Kendra, a goose dog, was very successful in controlling the goose population, but the coots just ran into the water instead of fl ying away. Something else needed to be done. The fi rst order of business was to set appropriate goals. Recognizing that eliminating coots from the course altogether was not realistic, they decided on the following goals:

● Reduce damage from coots on the greens

● Reduce cost of maintenance on the 17th green small duck-like bird, the fi sh, tadpoles, crustaceans, snails, American Coot’s black body, worms, insects, and eggs of other ● Improve the enjoyment of golfers A red eyes, and white beak make marsh birds. They will steal food from while playing golf it one of the more easily identifi ed other waterfowl, especially diving waterfowl. A fl ock of coots is some- ducks as they return to the surface ● Allow coots to continue their natural times called a “commotion” or a with aquatic plants from the bottom of migration process “swarm.” Property managers in the the pond. They also feed on agricultural South will recognize the sentiment crops and turfgrass. It was fi rst recommended that they behind these names, as they can be Because of their adaptability, large obtain a depredation permit due to an unwelcome nuisance during the numbers, and disregard of most the tremendous coot damage. Since cooler months. Swarms can swell to attempts to shift them, there is still CourseCo, the managing company, is 1,500 birds, resulting in damaged much debate over how best to control very environmentally conscious, and turfgrass from aggressive feeding, coot damage. There is one golf course the superintendent, Gary Ingram, digging, and defecation. in California, however, that has learned CGCS, believed there must be a less Native to North and Central to coexist with the coots for a number drastic solution, he decided to try America, the American Coot has also of years. installing a fence around the green. been found in parts of Europe. Coots He chose a silt fence, as it was readily prefer shallow freshwater ponds and METROPOLITAN GOLF LINKS, available, somewhat inexpensive, easy marshes, making them common OAKLAND, CALIF. to install, and the correct height and visitors to urban ponds, but can also Coots use Metropolitan Golf Links as a best color for the situation. be found in coastal waters. Osprey rest area during their annual migration, Three rolls of silt fence are installed and bald eagle sometimes prey upon with a couple of hundred birds stopping outside of the water hazard, sloping adults. A number of animals, including each year. Resting in the lakes at towards the green so if a ball hit the raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes, and night, they spend the day eating grass, fence there is a chance it would con- snapping turtles, will prey on coot eggs digging, and defecating. The 17th green tinue towards the green. Fencing is and nestlings. would get so bad that golf course staff installed to coincide with the beginning Coots are opportunistic feeders and would need to clean the green two to of the migration season, before the will eat aquatic vegetation and algae, three times a day. The coots would coots become used to visiting the

Green Section Record Vol. 49 (10) TGIF Record Number 177314 March 11, 2011 Page 1 A fl ock of coots is known as a “swarm.” Swarms can sometimes swell to 1,500 birds. green as not only a place to eat and golfers to understand how this fence The fencing is adequate in meeting congregate, but as a natural route to should be played as per the Rules of the goals. Coots continue to eat in the other areas on the course. Golf. Golf shop staff are well informed roughs and fairways, but the damage Fence stakes must be replaced with information available for the is incidental compared to the destruc- when wind, rain, and golfers loosen golfers. Information was also available tion to the green. The owners and or pull them out. Fencing also must on the Metropolitan Golf Links web guests are happy. Ingram’s only regret be replaced once during the season page through the superintendent’s is that he wishes he had tried it sooner. due to rain, wind, and solar radiation blog. deterioration. Ingram has learned that Over the year, the fencing costs if repairs and replacement are not about $250, and approximately $600 JOELLEN LAMPMAN is the director of done consistently enough, the coots in labor is spent maintaining it. This the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary will go back to visiting the green. compares to approximately $4,000 per Program for Audubon International. Communication and education of year needed to clean and repair the She can be reached at jlampman@ guests is critical to the success of this coot-damaged green. Ingram considers auduboninternational.org. For more project. Putting a fence in the way of “the cost savings to be incidental to the information about Audubon the golf shots defi nitely made the hole goodwill and efforts in doing what was International, visit www. more diffi cult, and at times it required right.” auduboninternational.org.

Green Section Record Vol. 49 (10) March 11, 2011 Page 2