Virgnia Rail at the Smithsonian Institution

Jim Felley (IRMSS668@SIVM.SI.EDU)
Mon, 24 Aug 98 13:47:20 EDT


The Virginia Rail remains in the Enid Haupt Garden.  Early this
morning, it was in the yews along Independence Ave. (outside
the garden).  Its schedule seems to have changed somewhat in the
last week--it seems to be much more in evidence in the early
afternoon, mainly around the hostas near the fountain.  Its home
range still seems to include the row of yews along Independence Ave.
east of the garden gate and the west side and the north side of the
National Museum of African Art.
   A few natural history notes:  I have yet to see it anywhere but
in the shade.  It will come out into the open, yet always remains
in the shade of a tree or shrub.
   It gets harassed by the young European Starlings, but doesn't
seem to mind--when they fly at it, it merely turns the other way.
   It sprints for cover when it sees flying grackles and crows.
Perhaps they remind it of hawks, or perhaps it knows something we
don't about rail predation in these species!  And when it sprints,
it is *amazingly* fast!

                              Jim

                              Jim Felley
                              Smithsonian Institution
                              irmss668@sivm.si.edu