To put Ben's comments into perspective, the following illustrates the
current breeding status of King Rail in the state:
http://bird.atlasing.org/Atlas/OH/Main?cmd=stateSummary&theme=species&edition=current&species=kinrai&species=Go

The Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas has invested a substantial amount of effort
into locating and surveying wetland habitat around the state.  During the
last several years, these efforts have yielded only a handful of King Rail
records from counties away from Lake Erie's western marshes.  Thanks in
large part to the vision and planning of Columbus Metroparks, central Ohio
now has additional wetland habitat that is proving to be valuable to a host
of sensitive wetland species.  If you look at the additional link below,
you'll see that Ben's observation of Least Bittern is the first for this
species within the greater Columbus area.

http://bird.atlasing.org/Atlas/OH/Main?cmd=stateSummary&theme=species&edition=current&species=leabit&species=Go

So, these wetland restorations are doing their job...providing high quality
habitat that is attracting some of the rarest nesting species in the state.
 Let's not ruin that with the short sighted goal of tick-birding.

Have fun atlasing out there this summer!

Aaron Boone-

On Sun, Jun 5, 2011 at 12:42 PM, Gentleben <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>
> Today as Doreene Linzell already reported we observed the King Rails (not
> just one but two!) at the Honda Wetlands complex of Glacier Ridge Metro
> Park. When I first arrived there were a number of birders hanging around
> waiting on the King to vocalize or otherwise reveal itself. This is great. I
> heard that there were some people there last night using tapes to try and
> get the rail to come out and defend its territory. This is usually a bad
> idea when done on rare birds like this, and the ABA and most other people
> frown on this sort of thing when done on a rarity or especially on an
> Endangered Species like King Rail, especially in this case when the birds
> may be likely to nest there! After some of the birders waited the rail was
> seen walking across an opening in the marsh along the gravel trail near the
> shelter house inbetween the shelter house and the observation tower. This
> was after we heard it vocalize on its own (un-prompted) several times. After
> most of the birders left I was there with several others who stayed behind
> and I noticed some movement near the edge of the cattails. There before me
> sat a female King Rail just preening in a relaxed manner. As she did this,
> the male King Rail walked right up to her and looked her over about an inch
> away from her bill, like he was checking out what she was up to or
> something. He then turned around and strode off in the direction of the
> shelter building. It was pretty awesome to see them side by side, the male
> is much richer in color and the red on him was very striking, as were the
> bold tan edges on his back feathers. She continued to preen as we stood
> amazed at such a good look. Since there is an apparent pair of King Rails at
> this location it would be a shame if human disturbance were to dissuade
> their likely nesting attempt, so PLEASE do NOT make noises or play
> recordings at them to try and get them all riled up, this is a violation of
> the Endangered Species Act for Ohio. If they are successful in nesting you
> can very likely get a great view of them later in the summer because when
> they are with young they are often much easier to view. If you go now, of
> course please be respectful of the birds and take care not to disturb them.
> This is an excellent marshland reclamation and many other good birds were
> observed further down along the nice boardwalk that goes through the marsh
> near this spot. As we walked along Peter Aldag and I observed 4 Virginia
> Rails (also a nester here), Soras, Marsh Wrens, Willow Flycatcher,
> Pied-billed Grebe, displaying Spotted Sandpiper, and very exciting: calling
> LEAST BITTERN (a threatened species in OH). We did not see the Least
> Bitterns but heard at least two calling repeatedly from different areas of
> the marsh on either side of the Boardwalk. Pretty awesome. Further down the
> road at the Entrance near the windmill display area we had 5 or 6 Bobolink
> and some Grasshopper Sparrows.
> Good Birding,
> Ben Warner
>
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--
Aaron Boone

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