You paddle your feet and move quickly across the water to the shore. There, hid den among the tall grasses, is your mate, a Hawaiian coot. Water rolls off your sturdy black feathers as you move among the tall grasses. The wind helps to keep you cool. You watch an 'o'opu, the goby fish, swim by.
Insects dancing in the sun make ti ny ripples on the water.
When you return, there's a big surprise. He takes an egg and runs off as you sound your alarm call. Birds nearby are hissing and squawking. The mongoose keeps running. You hear the sound of a barking dog and your mate hurriedly settles back into th e nest to protect the other eggs.