This past Friday, March 11 at Geauga Park District's Walter C. Best Wildlife Preserve on Rt. 44, just south of Chardon, I witnessed an interesting behavior. The only section of the lake ice-free was the deep end. While 2 pair of ring-neck ducks and a bufflehead drake were resting, several of the 9 American coots present were busy diving. 3 gadwalls (1 male, 2 female) were gravitating towards one diving coot while 3 American wigeon (2 males, 1 female) were gathered around another. As the coots surfaced with plant material, the ducks partook. It was unclear whether the coots had allowed some of the plant stuff to drift off or what, but the ducks weren't exactly stealing it either as the activity wasn't particularly aggressive or antagonistic. Wanted to stay longer to observe, but work beckoned. What was obvious was that the water was too deep for the ducks to dabble, so they were benefitting from the coots. Is anyone else familiar with this suggested cooperative feeding behavior? Dan Best, Geauga Park District ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]