I was out with Dan Cadieux and Wayne Wood today and we went looking for Virginia Rails. As we walked along a path with marsh on either side I heard one call behind us. We played a rail call a few times and at least 3 approached us. They must have liked the sound because all of a sudden two seemed to stop about 10-12 feet from us and started to mate. Unfortunately they were hidden in the cattails.
After about 30 seconds they finally appeared to our left but remained partially hidden. I managed to create a series of 5 images before they separated. This is number 2 in the series. I picked this one because of the males upswept wings. My fill flash had been used on the first image.
Canon 40D, Sigma 50-500, ISO 400, F8, 1/800. Cropped to about 60% of full frame. Levels slightly adjusted. Not the greatest image but this was a first time for me to photograph these shy marsh dwellers.
Last edited by Stephen Stephen; 04-20-2008 at 09:56 PM.
Not many people get the chance of seeing rails mating, let alone photograph the event...so for that I say kudos!! From my angle (which was about 10 feet away to the right) all I could do is watch. Man that male was ferocious, at first we thought a fight was developing!
Thank you Dan and Al. I didn't really post this one for its technical merit but rather to share my uncommon experience, with this species, with others.
well done to have experienced this rare sight Stephen , my angle didn't allow me any shots of the copulation but I enjoyed witnessing it , as Dan said there's not too many people in this world who can say that they have seen what we saw and even less who were able to document it , also nice to be out in the field with you again
Virginia Rails Hear the "Call of Love"
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