The most impressive part of our travel to Kinderdijk was coot family we met in one of the channels. There were plenty of coots in all channels, but most of them still sat on eggs, and only one fast-paced coupe already shepherds their just-hatched chicks. This is Eurasian coot aka Fulica atra.
The hatchlings are very small, covered with floccus, have bald heads, and leaves of water-lilies are islands for them.
One leaf can easily holds two chicks.
Rush is a difficult obstruction.
The first week they cannot pick up food, and parents feed them.
Parent move around them, feed, protect.
Dad
Chicks prefer to keep near the parents but sometimes moved far away.
They like to rest on the leaves.
Wings are still naked, but chicks wave them very actively.
