GRAY GALLINULES seem to be entirely lacking in that caution which enables most forms of wild life to survive. They remain in plain sight while their nests are photographed or examined and their protests are more curious than resentful. They are the noisiest of the family, possessing and using an extensive repertoire of harsh notes. A marsh inhabitated by one or more pairs of these birds is not a quiet spot except at night, as Gallinules are less talkative after dark than other members of the family. The pair which posed for my portrait of them had started housekeeping in a small pond not far from Jamaica, Long Island. After the first day I was accepted as part of the scenery and received no more notice than a nearby stump. I saw one in the air once — a laborious, ungainly performance which showed their wisdom in not attempting air trips often.
Temperate United States. Locally common in southern states. Casual to southern Canada.