All of the species shown in the image (except for Black Rail) have been seen in SW Louisiana's rice fields during ratoon (or 2nd) harvest activities. Clapper Rail is the rarest of these and difficult to identify - especially on the wing - separated from King by slightly smaller size and grayer overall plumage. It is the expected species in salt marsh on the coast and usually seen during Cameron Coast trips however, fall migrants are occasionally found inland. This is not the case for Black Rail. So far, the species has never been seen during rice harvest activities but has been observed during coastal banding operations during the last two YRARF festivals, when the festival began to coordinate with Audubon Louisiana to assist with their Black Rail banding operations. Hopefully we will again be successful in seeing this species during YRARF 2019 and we are excited to offer this unique opportunity to YRARF participants: there are still spaces on the Black Rail Survey Wait Lists.
Rails from top left clockwise: King Rail, Yellow Rail (in flight), Sora, Virginia Rail, Black Rail, Yellow Rail, and Clapper Rail.
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