LOUISIANA BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE

REPORT FORM

1. English and Scientific names:

Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis)

2. Number of individuals, sexes, ages, general plumage (e.g., 2 in alternate plumage):

1, probably male (because singing)

3. Locality: Parish: Cameron

Specific Locality: Broussard Beach, 3.1 mi ESE Cameron, LA

4. Date(s) when observed:

23 March 2013

5. Time(s) of day when observed:

12:15 – 12:45pm

6. Reporting observer and address:

Erik I. Johnson

Lafayette, LA 70508

7. Other observers accompanying reporter who also identified the bird(s):

none

8. Other observers who independently identified the bird(s):

none known

9. Light conditions (position of bird in relation to shade and to direction and amount of light):

Overcast and light misty drizzle. I did not see the bird, but it was singing and calling as close as 5 feet away.

10. Optical equipment (type, power, condition):

iPhone 5 for audio and video (using built-in video mode and Recorder Plus app)

11. Distance to bird(s):

First heard about 100 m away, then as close as 1 or 2 meters

12. Duration of observation:

About 30 minutes

13. Habitat:

Coastal meadow with mix of Spartina (patens?), Juncus sp., and Iva/Baccharis shrubs. Swale with more wet-loving salt-tolerant plants (a succulent and various forbs like beach goldenrod and other grasses and sedges).

14. Behavior of bird / circumstances of observation (flying, feeding, resting; include and stress habits used in identification; relate events surrounding observation):

First heard singing in the distance (about 100 m as measured by Google Earth) as I was walking along the path between Broussard Beach and Beach Rd., but I wasn’t sure it was a Black Rail – maybe a mockingbird mimicking or even a part of some other bird’s song. I ran back to the car to grab my phone to record this, and started walking through the grasses toward where I thought the sound had come from. I immediately heard it again, paused and got a crummy recording from about 75 m away with a lot of background noise (the beach and waves were close and loud). Then it stopped. I continued walking to about the spot. I tried playback using the Audubon app on my iPhone for about 10 minutes. Heard nothing. As I was about to give up, the bird starting singing “ki-ki-der” repeatedly almost at my feet. Over the next 15 minutes or so, I tried to flush the bird, or look for movement in the grasses and bases of shrubs to no avail. The bird would move around, sometimes while singing, and occasionally growl (also recorded). I eventually gave up trying to see it as steadier showers were rolling in and my gear was getting wet.

15. Description (include only what was actually seen, not what "should" have been seen; include if possible: total length/relative size compared to other familiar species, body bulk, shape, proportions, bill, eye, leg, and plumage characteristics. Stress features that separate it from similar species):

Never saw anything, but the song was spot-on for a Black Rail – the sounds were coming from the ground level a few feet away, ruling out mockingbird or really anything else.

16. Voice:

Singing “ki-ki-der” or “ki-ki-doo” depending on how you describe it, over and over in quick succession (recorded). Then long pauses, occasionally broken by a churring or growling sound (recorded). It gave at least 4 or 5 series of songs over the approx. 15 min I was within 5-20 feet of it this entire time. Also gave about 3 or 4 bouts of growls.

17. Similar species (include how they were eliminated by your observation):

Ruled out mockingbird and really nothing else that I am aware of makes this sound.

18. Photographs or tape recordings obtained? (by whom? attached?):

Yes, video and audio recordings of songs and growls. I’m attaching without having done any editing or filtering. In the background you can hear Swamp Sparrow chips, Sedge Wren, Red-winged Blackbird, and some kind of hammering noise that was out of sight – probably someone working.

19. Previous experience with this species:

Essentially none. I’ve actually seen it once, but have never heard it before. After having a year experience doing Conway-protocol secretive marshbird surveys (as well as lots of other birding in and around coastal marshes), this was one of the playback species used, so I am very familiar with the vocalizations, even though I had never heard it in life before.

20. Identification aids: (list books, illustrations, other birders, etc. used in identification):

a. at time of observation: Audubon iPhone app

b. after observation: none

21. This description is written from: _____ notes made during the observation (_____notes attached?);__X__notes made after the observation (date: 23 March 2013 to LAbird and 24 March 2013 to eBird); __X__memory.

22. Are you positive of your identification if not, explain: Yes

23. Date: 27 March 2013 Time: 9:40am