Hal
Lump them!
Regards
George

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lynn & Hal" <>
To: <>
Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2004 12:46 PM
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Deal Island WMA & Rail Question


> I wish to acknowledge Taylor's recent complement about my large rail
> expertise, however richly undeserved it is.  I deny being a large rail
> expert and only consider myself a large rail enthusiast.  I am still
> frequently surprised by their confusing vocalizations and the amazing
extent
> to which they overlap.  In my meager experience, I have found only 2 calls
> which I believe can be used to separate the two species with more than 90%
> certainty:  the ticking call of Clappers, which tends to start slowly,
speed
> up in the middle, and slow down at the end of each series, and the ticking
> call of Kings, which tends not to speed up & usually has a much steadier
> cadence.  I have found that the "grunt" calls overlap like crazy, to the
> point of being inseparable.  And occassionally Clappers can give a ticking
> series on an even cadence that will make you positive you have a King,
until
> it walks out in the open.  To further confound the situation, it is now
well
> known that the formerly-safe "hip-hip-hoorah" call of Kings is frequently
> given by Clappers as well. I have heard Clappers, as well as seen
Clappers,
> give this call on several occasions.
>
> With respect to Deal Island, it is my suspicion that on the inside of the
> impoundment, the water might actually be fresh enough to be attractive to
> Kings.  On occasion I have thought I might have heard Kings there, but
have
> definitely seen and heard Clappers numerous times, both inside and outside
> of the impoundment.  Therefore, I still feel the bottom line is that if
you
> think you might have a King Rail, your best bet for confirmation is to see
> it.  Occasionally, patience is rewarded.  I have been fooled many times
> trying to guess which large rail would show up.....so much more to learn!
>
> Hal Wierenga
> Arnold, MD
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Taylor McLean <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 12:26 PM
> Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Deal Island WMA & Rail Question
>
>
> > I beleive that the King Rail has a ticking vocalization which is not as
> long
> > as the
> > vocalization of the ticking Clapper Rail. The King may also slow down a
> > little more at the end.
>