As we discussed (see my post here on 5/17/10 and
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lmk/?n=flood_050210_how_it_happened ) the region
experienced a large incursion of purple gallinules as a result of
violent weather. Somehow a male and a female found one another, with the
normal result; single birds have occurred north well into Canada in
other years. No doubt these birds will return to their normal climes in
a more leisurely way once the young are able to fly; as far as we know,
vagrants always have. Ohio held the world record for the northernmost
nest of this species based on a nesting here in Franklin County ( for
that story, see
http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Auk/v081n02/p0224-p0226.pdf  , where a
discussion of molt of flight feathers seems to determine when they can
depart), and now holds the new one. These rallids are not strong fliers
and easily blown off-course; before all the birds counted this year,
there were 13 state records since 1980.
Bill Whan
Columbus

Barrett,Robert P wrote:
> Exciting news, no doubt about it. But I have to wonder, what will
> they do when it turns cold? While it's possible for a pair of
> Gallinules to produce young in Ohio, can we expect the young to breed
> in their native wetland at Clearfork?  Will they fly south in the
> fall and stay there, or might they return in the spring?  Will the
> young even be strong enough to fly south in October?  Or does this
> species not migrate (willingly) far from the Gulf Coast?  If not, why
> not?  What could tell them that they have gone far enough, and that
> heading farther north is not in their favor?  I'm thinking that they
> must be responding to some sort of signal or indicator (cypress
> trees?  Alligators?) and wondering what it could be.  There must be
> some good reason why we don't normally encounter Purple Gallinules in
> Ohio, and this makes me very curious about it.
>
> Dr. Bob Barrett Geography and Planning University of Akron
> ________________________________________ From: Ohio birds
> [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
> [[log in to unmask]] Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2010 10:53 PM To:
> [log in to unmask] Subject: [Ohio-birds] Clearfork
> Reservoir Rarities, Gallinules. (7/15) Ben Warner
>
> 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
>

______________________________________________________________________

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]