Hi Tweeters;
Just have to share with you the great news that at least two baby rails
were successfully hatched at 'my' pond recently! Yesterday we saw one
black downy baby, in the open, by the edge of the pond (it reminded me
of a little penguin from the back.) The only thing I know about one
parent is that when I first saw it fly into the small wetland it had a
red breast, so that rules out Sora. It may be common for the birding
community to see these birds and their young but for me it is a
profound experience. The reason is- the year before last these birds
tried to nest in the same wetland but because our horses ate the
vegetation a bull snake got the eggs. I heard the commotion when it
happened and as a result decided to fence the horses out with a
split-rail fence. This year the grasses and herbs grew tall and all the
ducks, rails, muskrat and other birds had great cover and are living
happy lives. It just makes me realize that EVERY choice humans make
affects wildlife either positively or negatively.
Joy Stickney-Markgraf
Near White Salmon WA
email: joymarkgraf at gorge.net