allori 249 Fulica americana -30- May 21 Jewel Lake, Tilden Park, Contra Costa Co., Calif. The N♀ working S along H, feeding a young, is arousing the interest (15:35) of one of the S pair. A moment earlier the S was in E/S area again, and met a young coming out, billing it before diving for food for it. The male moved back into his territory from H 14, bringing 2 young with him. A short time later one of the S pair was in the same area w/♂ young. - The N♀ was in K20 with 2 young. Lots of algae on the surface of the open water there, and a snake or turtle scared the young into the cat tails at L20.24. The ♀ moved over, killed each of the young and took off after their tormentors - she swam rapidly, in a zig-zag course, pecking at the water, as if trying to catch a rapidly moving snake swimming on erratic course just under the water surface. After twenty or so feet she lost it. A short time later the ♀ moving north with 2, a 3rd from north boat and 2 with the ♂ means 5 as in the brood - a little while later the one parent + all 5 young were feeding at L27 - at least 4 young diving or tipping for food, and some feeding (or rubbing?) one another. Except for one small one, the N brood seems quite independent of their parents - during this same time