{"id":5918,"date":"2022-11-25T17:14:22","date_gmt":"2022-11-25T17:14:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/?p=5918"},"modified":"2024-04-12T16:56:06","modified_gmt":"2024-04-12T16:56:06","slug":"virginia-rail-the-secretive-marsh-bird","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/2022\/11\/25\/virginia-rail-the-secretive-marsh-bird\/","title":{"rendered":"VIRGINIA RAIL: THE SECRETIVE MARSH BIRD"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019re walking through the forest, taking in the scenery of the trees, the sounds of songbirds, and observe the aquatic habitat with cattails in full bloom. Everything is peaceful and quiet; the world seems to fade away. Then, all of a sudden, you hear this strange harsh sound from far away: \u201ckiddik, kiddik\u201d. You shrug it off. Then, vegetation begins to move, the water starts to ripple, and the sound gets louder\u2026 You look around, but you don\u2019t see anything! Quickly, out of the corner of your eye, you see something skitter away with a white flash and you\u2019re puzzled to what you saw. You get out your phone and open your birding apps to investigate. To your surprise, you\u2019ve just witnessed the rare, yet marvelous, Virginia Rail. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/files\/2022\/11\/Picture1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"579\" height=\"434\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/files\/2022\/11\/Picture1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5919\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/files\/2022\/11\/Picture1.jpg 579w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/files\/2022\/11\/Picture1-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 579px) 100vw, 579px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Figure 1: Adult Virginia Rail. Photo by Evan Lipton. Via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/guide\/Virginia_Rail\/overview\">All About Birds<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>DESCRIPTION &amp; IDENTIFICATION<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Virginia Rail (<em>Rallus <\/em>l<em>imicola<\/em>) resides in the Rallidae family which also includes the Sora (<em>Porzana carolina<\/em>), and American Coot (<em>Fulica americana<\/em>) (Sibley, 2016). Virginia Rails tend to live in marsh environments with dense vegetation in order to hide and blend with their surroundings. They have many adaptions to conquer their habitat with long legs, a long beak, and robust feathers to withstand wear and tear from the emerging vegetation (Barrett, et al., 1990; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/guide\/Virginia_Rail\/overview\">All About Birds<\/a>). They also have the highest ratio of bird leg muscles to flight muscles and mainly choose to walk, or swim, rather than fly (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/guide\/Virginia_Rail\/overview\">All About Birds<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Generally speaking, the Virginia Rail is a very secretive bird, and it is more often heard than seen (<a href=\"https:\/\/ebird.org\/species\/virrai\">eBird<\/a>). The male song consists of double \u201ckiddik\u201d sounds that reverberate through the environment to attract female mates, much like the sound in the video below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Virginia Rail calling\" width=\"1180\" height=\"885\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-kAgbhLsx5U?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Video 1: Virginia Rail calling. Via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=-kAgbhLsx5U\">naturalist97333<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Physically, Virginia Rails are medium-sized and have a laterally compressed body: if you look at it head on, it looks very thin, but from the side, it looks full-bodied. This appearance led to the English idiom of looking \u201cas thin as a rail\u201d (Barrett, et al., 1990). Virginia Rail plumage is rusty coloured overall but with a grey face, course brown streaking along the back, black and white barring on the sides, and a white undertail (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/guide\/Virginia_Rail\/overview\">All About Birds<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdwatchingdaily.com\/birds\/kenn-kaufmans-id-tips\/how-to-identify-virginia-rail\/\">Kaufman &amp; Small, n.d.<\/a>). They also have a reddish beak and legs, but they are usually submerged if not covered in marsh mud (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/guide\/Virginia_Rail\/overview\">All About Birds<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/files\/2022\/11\/XC692199-Virginia-Rail-Rallus-limicola.mp3\"><\/audio><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Audio 1: Virginia Rail calling. Recorded by Christopher McPherson. Via <a href=\"https:\/\/xeno-canto.org\/species\/Rallus-limicola\">xeno-canto.<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>DIET:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The diet of Virginia Rails consists primarily of invertebrates such as beetles, dragonflies, and snails, but they do occasionally consume seeds, fish, and aquatic vegetation (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.audubon.org\/field-guide\/bird\/virginia-rail\">Audubon<\/a>; Barrett, et al., 1990). They feed by probing through the mud and shallow water with their long beak. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>HABITAT &amp; DISTRIBUTION:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can find Virginia Rails across the majority of North America and in a very small portion of South America (<a href=\"https:\/\/birdsoftheworld.org\/bow\/species\/virrai\/cur\/introduction\">Conway, 2020<\/a>). Most Virginia Rail populations are migratory, but some on the West Coast are permanent residents (<a href=\"https:\/\/birdweb.org\/birdweb\/bird\/virginia_rail#:~:text=The%20Virginia%20Rail%20is%20a%20medium-sized%20bird%20of,reddish%20in%20color%2C%20and%20the%20cheeks%20are%20gray.\">Bird Web)<\/a>. They tend to migrate from mid-August to October and return in the spring as early as late March. During their migration, they can be found in peculiar locations, such as in city streets (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.audubon.org\/field-guide\/bird\/virginia-rail\">Audubon<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/files\/2022\/11\/Picture2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"264\" height=\"311\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/files\/2022\/11\/Picture2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5921\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/files\/2022\/11\/Picture2.png 264w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/files\/2022\/11\/Picture2-255x300.png 255w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 264px) 100vw, 264px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/files\/2022\/11\/Picture3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"224\" height=\"35\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/files\/2022\/11\/Picture3.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5920\" style=\"width:243px;height:38px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><br>Figure 2: Virginia Rail distribution. Via <a href=\"https:\/\/birdsoftheworld.org\/bow\/species\/virrai\/cur\/introduction\">Birds of the World <\/a>&nbsp;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The primary habitat for Virginia Rails is freshwater or brackish marshes with water levels less than 6 inches (15cm) deep (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/guide\/Virginia_Rail\/overview\">All About Birds<\/a>). They also prefer an environment with moderate proportions of emergent vegetation (30-70%) so as to not be too thick to move through (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/363663001_Effects_of_Management_Practices_on_Wetland_Birds_Virginia_Rail\">Zimmerman, et al., 2002<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>BEHAVIOUR:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Virginia Rails tend to walk fast in open areas with a rather jerky motion, all while flicking their tail to display the white feathers underneath. They tend to seek cover for the majority of their time and will spend leisurely time foraging when well hidden. When Virginia Rails do decide to fly, their flight is rather short and weak. When they choose to swim, they propel themselves with their wings (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/guide\/Virginia_Rail\/overview\">All About Birds<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>MATING &amp; NESTING:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The mating ritual for Virginia Rails begins with the male running back and forth near the female with his wings raised. When both partners are in agreement, they bow to one another, and then the ritual ends when the male feeds the female (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.audubon.org\/field-guide\/bird\/virginia-rail\">Audubon<\/a>). Their nest construction is a basket made of loosely woven vegetation and placed onto dry ground or very shallow water. It is not uncommon for a canopy of live plants to be made over top of the nest for camouflage. (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.audubon.org\/field-guide\/bird\/virginia-rail\">Audubon<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/guide\/Virginia_Rail\/overview\">All About Birds<\/a>). The nests are generally located within dense vegetation for brood protection and to secure a place for foraging (<a href=\"https:\/\/doi-org.ezproxy.viu.ca\/10.1080\/00222933.2018.1539195\">Hanane, 2018<\/a>) The female lays between 4-13 eggs and the young hatch with black, downy plumage \u2013 how cute! (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.audubon.org\/field-guide\/bird\/virginia-rail\">Audubon<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/files\/2022\/11\/Picture4.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"339\" height=\"285\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/files\/2022\/11\/Picture4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5922\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/files\/2022\/11\/Picture4.jpg 339w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/files\/2022\/11\/Picture4-300x252.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 339px) 100vw, 339px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Figure 3: Virginia Rail downy young. Photo by Hal Trachtenberg. Via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.audubon.org\/field-guide\/bird\/virginia-rai\">Audubon<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>CONSERVATION STATUS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Marsh birds are wonderful indicators of marsh health and quality (<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1675\/063.045.0113\">Kitaif, et al., 2022<\/a>). Maintenance of wetlands and degradation prevention is crucial in protecting wetland species as a whole. Mudflats, sandbars, and meadows should also be conserved as these are crucial habitats for Virginia Rail foraging and breeding (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/363663001_Effects_of_Management_Practices_on_Wetland_Birds_Virginia_Rail\">Zimmerman, et al., 2002<\/a>). Populations of Rails in the past did show population decline from 1966-1991 (<a href=\"https:\/\/www-jstor-org.ezproxy.viu.ca\/stable\/4163446?pq-origsite=summon#metadata_info_tab_contents\">Courtney J. Conway, 1994<\/a>) but recent evaluations show that their numbers remain stable (Bird Web). However, due to their secretive nature and small size, data collection has proven rather difficult (<a href=\"https:\/\/www-jstor-org.ezproxy.viu.ca\/stable\/4163446?pq-origsite=summon#metadata_info_tab_contents\">Courtney J. Conway, 1994<\/a>). The major threat to their overall success is loss of marshland habitat, which face a major threat with global warming and climate change (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/guide\/Virginia_Rail\/overview\">All About Birds<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.audubon.org\/field-guide\/bird\/virginia-rail\">Audubon<\/a>). &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/files\/2022\/11\/Picture5.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"624\" height=\"158\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/files\/2022\/11\/Picture5.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5923\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/files\/2022\/11\/Picture5.png 624w, https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/files\/2022\/11\/Picture5-300x76.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Figure 4: Red list category of species vulnerability. Via <a href=\"https:\/\/ebird.org\/species\/virrai\">eBird<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>RECENT RESEARCH \u2013 PROTECT THE MARSHES<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Limited research has been conducted on this marsh bird due to its secretive nature and small size. However, a recent article published in <em>Science of the Total Environment<\/em> by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0048969718309823\">Kopec <em>et al. <\/em>(2018)<\/a>, looked into the mercury concentrations in the blood and feather of various marsh birds. The research was conducted in the lower Penobscot River in Maine, USA, specifically at a location downstream from a former chlor-alkali plant. While in operation, this plant disposed of nine tons of mercury waste into the aquatic habitat. Thankfully, the plant closed in 2000. The researchers in this study wanted to investigate mercury levels at this location in comparison to a reference site and assess how the mercury levels changed over the course of six years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study analyzed 5 species of birds: Nelson\u2019s sparrow, song sparrow, swamp sparrow, red-winged blackbird, and Virginia Rails. Virginia Rails had to be captured in a different way than the \u201cstandard\u201d mist net. This was done by luring them into open areas and then activating a woosh net remotely. A whoosh net is rapidly deployed into the air over the birds and then quickly settles to the ground to capture them. Once the birds were trapped, blood samples and feathers were collected and analyzed for their mercury content.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/files\/2022\/11\/Picture6.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"287\" height=\"271\" src=\"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/files\/2022\/11\/Picture6.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5924\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">Figure 5: Blood mercury levels in Nelson&#8217;s sparrows (NESP), red-winged blackbirds (RWBL), song sparrows (SOSP), swanp sparrows (SWSP), and Virginia Rails (VIRA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The results of the blood tests found that mercury levels were significantly higher in adult birds residing in habitats downstream of the previous chlor-alkali plant in comparison to the reference site. Specifically for Virginia Rails, they had mercury concentrations 10 times that of those living in the reference site \u2013 yikes! These levels were also 4 times higher compared to a similar species, the Clapper Rail. The range of mercury concentration did depend on diet differences considering the bioaccumulation of mercury through the food web.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Interestingly, it was hypothesized that mercury levels would decrease over the 6-year sampling period, but they found that levels remained stagnant or even increased! Mercury can become buried with other sediments within marsh habitats and re-suspended with changes in the river channel and erosion. This implies that the actions we take today can have disastrous effects for years, if not decades, later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">References<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>All About Birds: Virginia Rail<\/em>. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2022, from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/guide\/Virginia_Rail\/overview\">https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/guide\/Virginia_Rail\/overview<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Barrett, N. M., Bernstein, C., Brown, R. M., Connor, J., Dunham, K., Dunne, P., . . . Toups, J. (1990). Book of North American Birds. Pleasantville: Reader&#8217;s Digest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Conway, C. J. (2020, March 4). <em>Virginia Rail<\/em>. Retrieved from Birds of the World: <a href=\"https:\/\/birdsoftheworld.org\/bow\/species\/virrai\/cur\/introduction\">https:\/\/birdsoftheworld.org\/bow\/species\/virrai\/cur\/introduction<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Courtney J. Conway, W. R. (1994). Nesting Success and Survival of Virginia Rails and Soras. <em>The Wilson Bulletin, 106<\/em>(3), 466-473. Retrieved November 20, 2022, from<a href=\"https:\/\/www-jstor-org.ezproxy.viu.ca\/stable\/4163446?pq-origsite=summon#metadata_info_tab_contents\"> https:\/\/www-jstor-org.ezproxy.viu.ca\/stable\/4163446?pq-origsite=summon#metadata_info_tab_contents<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fournier, A. M., Sullivan, A. R., Bump, J. K., Perkins, M., Shieldcastle, M. C., &amp; King, S. L. (2017). Combining citizen science species distribution models and stable isotopes reveals migratory connectivity in the secretive Virginia rail. <em>Journal of Applied Ecology, 54<\/em>, 618-627.<a href=\"10.1111\/1365-2664.12723\"> doi:10.1111\/1365-2664.12723<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Guide to North American Birds: Virginia Rail<\/em>. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2022, from Audubon: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.audubon.org\/field-guide\/bird\/virginia-rail\">https:\/\/www.audubon.org\/field-guide\/bird\/virginia-rail<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hanane, S. I. (2018, November 14). Evidence for a geographical gradient selection in the distribution of breeding Podicipedidae and Rallidae in the south-western Mediterranean. <em>Journal of Natural History, 52<\/em>, 2457-2472. Retrieved November 20, 2022, from <a href=\"https:\/\/doi-org.ezproxy.viu.ca\/10.1080\/00222933.2018.1539195\">https:\/\/doi-org.ezproxy.viu.ca\/10.1080\/00222933.2018.1539195<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kaufman, K., &amp; Small, B. E. (n.d.). <em>How to identify Virginia Rail<\/em>. Retrieved November 20, 2022, from BirdWatching: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdwatchingdaily.com\/birds\/kenn-kaufmans-id-tips\/how-to-identify-virginia-rail\/\">https:\/\/www.birdwatchingdaily.com\/birds\/kenn-kaufmans-id-tips\/how-to-identify-virginia-rail\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kitaif, C. J., Holiman, H., Fournier, A. M., Iglay, R. B., &amp; Woodrey, M. S. (2022, November 11). Trends in Rail Migration Arrival and Departure Times Using Long-Term Citizen Science Data from Mississippi, USA. <em>Waterbirds, 45<\/em>(1), 108-112. Retrieved from <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1675\/063.045.0113\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1675\/063.045.0113<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kopec, D. A., Bodaly, R. A., Lane, O. P., Evers, D. C., Leppold, A. J., &amp; Mittelhauser, G. H. (2018). Elevated mercury in blood and feathers of breeding marsh birds along the contaminated lower Penobscot River, Maine, USA. <em>Science of The Total Environment, 634<\/em>, 1563-1579. Retrieved November 19, 2022 from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0048969718309823\">https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0048969718309823<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sibley, D. A. (2016). Sibley Birds West. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thompson, G. (n.d.). <em>Virginia Rail<\/em>. Retrieved from Bird Note: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdnote.org\/explore\/sights-sounds\/photo\/2013\/04\/virginia-rail-0\">https:\/\/www.birdnote.org\/explore\/sights-sounds\/photo\/2013\/04\/virginia-rail-0<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Virginia Rail: Rallus limicola. <\/em>(2021). Retrieved November 25, 2022, from xeno-canto: <a href=\"https:\/\/xeno-canto.org\/species\/Rallus-limicola\">https:\/\/xeno-canto.org\/species\/Rallus-limicola<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Virginia Rail<\/em>. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2022, from eBird: <a href=\"https:\/\/ebird.org\/species\/virrai\">https:\/\/ebird.org\/species\/virrai<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Virginia Rail<\/em>. (n.d.). (Seattle Audubon: for birds and nature) Retrieved November 22, 2022, from Bird Web: <a href=\"https:\/\/birdweb.org\/birdweb\/bird\/virginia_rail#:~:text=The%20Virginia%20Rail%20is%20a%20medium-sized%20bird%20of,reddish%20in%20color%2C%20and%20the%20cheeks%20are%20gray.\">https:\/\/birdweb.org\/birdweb\/bird\/virginia_rail#:~:text=The%20Virginia%20Rail%20is%20a%20medium-sized%20bird%20of,reddish%20in%20color%2C%20and%20the%20cheeks%20are%20gray.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">YouTube. (2012). <em>Virginia Rail calling. YouTube.<\/em> Retrieved November 23, 2022 from: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=-kAgbhLsx5U\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=-kAgbhLsx5U<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Zimmerman, A. L., Dechant, J. A., Jamison, B. E., Johnson, D. H., Goldade, C. M., Church, J. O., &amp; Euliss, B. R. (2002). <em>Effects of management practices on wetland birds: Virginia Rail.<\/em> Jamestown: U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Research Center. Retrieved November 19, 2022 from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/363663001_Effects_of_Management_Practices_on_Wetland_Birds_Virginia_Rail\">https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/363663001_Effects_of_Management_Practices_on_Wetland_Birds_Virginia_Rail<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019re walking through the forest, taking in the scenery of the trees, the sounds of songbirds, and observe the aquatic habitat with cattails in full bloom. Everything is peaceful and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4658,"featured_media":5937,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5918","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5918","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4658"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5918"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5918\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5985,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5918\/revisions\/5985"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5937"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5918"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5918"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5918"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}