This is exciting news! As predicted and prophesied by some this spring during the Purple Gallinule invasion, it seems some Purple Gallinules have found love at the northwest marshes of the Clearfork Reservoir! I went there this evening with Dave and Emily Slager (8-9:30pm) and re-found the little family. I only saw one adult but did see at least 4 different black, fuzzy, baby Gallinules following the adult around! Other observers have located and counted at least youngsters and both adults! Really cute little black fuzzballs. Even heard the adult vocalize. IF you go there to see them Please be respectful of the habitat and the rare birds and do not disturb the birds (no recording playback) or the marsh and stay right there along the roadside. The birds are a bit tricky to see through the spatterdock lilly pads and burr reed and cattails etc. so be patient.  here is a google map of the area in Richland Co. near Lexington Ohio.


Link: <http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=40.725625,-82.654878&spn=0.004464,0.009602&t=h&z=17> 


The birds are fairly faithful to the area north of the road, in the far western reaches of the marsh, and often are seen in the lower weedy areas in the middle of the Lilies. There is a couple pull-offs right before you cross the small bridge on Orweiler Road. Its not very busy. Other birds there this evening were Common Moorhen, Swamp Sparrows, Green Heron, Wood Duck, Cedar Waxwing, Eastern Blue Bird, and hundreds of roosting Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds. Cool stuff! And the babies were found by local Amish young men, nice work! Here is a photo Someone Else took (Bruce Glick) of the adult and some babies. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=31290960&l=ec20ac4ffe&id=164901416
Cheers!
- Ben Warner

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