Clapper Rails and Sora- the elusive birds. 8/22/2023

The Rail family includes birds such as Clapper Rail, Virginia Rail, King Rail, Sora, and the Coots and Gallinules. This group is sometimes referred to as "Marsh Chickens" due to their body shape and behavior. I have had the pleasure of seeing breeding Clapper Rails and visiting Sora in the marsh at a location in Fairhaven, MA over the last 2 months and what an experience it has been! At low tide, both breeds have enjoyed the plethora of food that is available in a marsh ecosystem, and I have enjoyed watching them feed. There have been at least three Clapper Rail breeding family units as well as two visiting Sora although I am not sure if the latter were breeding- it is a possibility considering the area. I have been there at low tide with all the possible birds there and at different ages, but I had to be patient for my goal. To see baby clapper rails... Mom does not lead them out to feed when all of the others are there at low tide with mud flats exposed...she waits until other birds are all gone and the tide is rising. I was patient and arrived after all of the other birders were leaving. I finally saw the reeds start to move and saw Mom furtively staying within the reeds as she led her babies to a gentle culvert. The photos are not the best, but Mom Clapper Rail did not want them to be...