RAIL FAMILY: How to be Elusive

Shy and secretive, Rails are rarely seen but often heard. In the marshes, Rails race through the dense vegetation on their strong legs and long toes. With their short wings, stout legs, and compressed bodies, They can easily escape into the grasses. “Thin as a Rail” refers to their supple bodies and abilities to hide in plain sight.

The Rail Family has nearly thirty Sub-groupings. The most notable are Coots, with their bald plates, and Waterhens, who are like Hens in their activities. In addition, Swamphen, Purple Gallinules, and Tahakee comprise the Porphyrio group of Rails.

Tahakee of New Zealand is the largest living member of the Rail Family. Like many Rails found on islands, Tahakee is flightless. Because of the competition of introduced animals on their islands, many Rail species are threatened with extinction. In fact, Tahakee was thought to be extinct several times.

At a local marsh I was visiting, the naturalist could only identify the Rails by their calls but could not find Them. Moreover, none of us could see Rails amongst the reeds. The loud calls of Rails can be heard in the wetlands, but the Birds Themselves are not seen.

Like Foxes, Rails are elusive, choosing when to be noticed and not. Melding back into the reeds with relative ease, Rails can disappear in front of you. However do not become so elusive that you end up extinct by not being noticed.

COOT: Interconnectedness

Often described as ungainly, Coots (Fulicae) seems to be a combination of several Birds. They have the body and habits of Ducks, the bill of Chickens, and the lobed toes of Grebes. In addition, their featherless frontal shield gave rise to the expression “bald as a Coot”.

Splattering across the water as They take off and land, Coots are easily noticed. Relatives of Moorhens, Coots bob their heads about while walking. They are decidedly unromantic Birds.

The only members of the Rail Family who live in groups, Coots zealously guard their small territories. (A group of Coots is called a “cover”.) Both Male and Female Coots will assert Themselves, feathers erect, against intruders. Moreover, with their powerful feet, Coots will flip over a rival and try to drown Them.

These ungainly odd Birds are indicators of the health of the wetlands, for their disappearance tolls the bell for other species. However, the groundskeepers of many golf courses make war with Coots since They damage the greens and ponds. But Coots need to be tolerated for all our sakes. We need to pay attention to these Birds and keep Them safe, since Coots demonstrate our interconnectedness with all.

COMMON MOORHEN (WATERHEN, GALLINULE): Be Fierce

A familiar sight in marsh lands is Common Moorhen high stepping and bobbing along. Because of her hen-like movements, Common Gallinules is also called “Moorhen”, “Waterhen” or “Marshhen.” A greedy eater, Common Moorhen will first feast on Slugs and Snails in the water. Later She will climb onto nearby berry bushes to scarf down the blackberries that She finds.

When mating season comes, Female Common Moorhen will build a nest in the dense vegetation. Unlike many other Birds, She actively competes for Mates. With her wings raised, Common Moorhen races across the water to claim her Mate. After mating, She stoutly protects her Chicks from predators.

Common Moorhen is neither shy nor is She retiring. Instead She is fierce in all that She does. One naturalist witnessed a Common Moorhen drive off a Stoat that had been swimming near her Chicks. Fearlessly She lives her life fully. Common Moorhen urges you to be fierce, and claim your place in the world.

RAIL FAMILY: How to be Elusive

Shy and secretive, Rails are rarely seen but often heard. In the marshes, Rails race through the dense vegetation on their strong legs and long toes. With their short wings, stout legs, and compressed bodies, They can easily escape into the grasses. “Thin as a Rail” refers to their supple bodies and abilities to hide in plain sight.

The Rail Family has nearly thirty Sub-groupings. The most notable are Coots, with their bald plates, and Waterhens, who are like Hens in their activities. In addition, Swamphen, Purple Gallinules, and Tahakee comprise the Porphyrio group of Rails.

Tahakee of New Zealand is the largest living member of the Rail Family. Like many Rails found on islands, Tahakee is flightless. Because of the competition of introduced animals on their islands, many Rail species are threatened with
extinction. In fact, Tahakee was thought to be extinct several times.

At a local marsh I was visiting, the naturalist could only identify the Rails by their calls but could not find Them. Moreover, none of us could see Rails amongst the reeds. The loud calls of Rails can be heard in the wetlands, but the Birds Themselves are not seen.

Like Foxes, Rails are elusive, choosing when to be noticed and not. Melding back into the reeds with relative ease, Rails can disappear in front of you. However do not become so elusive that you end up extinct by not being noticed.

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Science Notes:

1. In various regions of the world, Rails are called different names. In the Old World, Rails are separated into long-billed birds known as “rails”, and short-billed ones as “crakes”. The term “Rails” include coots, crakes, gallinules, and swamphens.

2. Moorhens (Gallinula chloropus) have many names. They are also called “skitty coots” and “black gallinules”. Blue Gallinules (Porphyrio porphyrio) belong to the Porphyrio sub-grouping of Rails. Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) and Watercock (Gallicrex cinerea) are Rails of different sub-groupings.