{"id":7207,"date":"2018-07-19T13:23:40","date_gmt":"2018-07-19T17:23:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/?p=7207"},"modified":"2018-07-17T13:24:08","modified_gmt":"2018-07-17T17:24:08","slug":"what-black-fluffy-pompom-chick-big-feet-long-toes-swamp-southern-ontario","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/what-black-fluffy-pompom-chick-big-feet-long-toes-swamp-southern-ontario\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is This Black Fluffy PomPom of a Chick with Big Feet and Long Toes in the Swamp in Southern Ontario?"},"content":{"rendered":"

2018 must be my \u201cYear of the Virginia Rails.\u201d In the spring, I was able to watch one feeding while walking through a culvert and around a duck pond at Colonel Sam Smith Park<\/strong><\/a> in Etobicoke. Then, in June and early July I was able to see another one and this was a nesting rail with chicks! When very young, Virginia Rail chicks are adorable black fluffy pompoms on pencil legs that end in huge feet with ludicrously long toes that keep them from sinking into the swamp muck.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nI’m no longer a baby chick but at least I was willing to stand still, pose, and show off my amazing feet!<\/em><\/p>\n

Where Might I Find Nesting Virginia Rails Near Lake Ontario?<\/h2>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nMy first look at a Virginia Rail chick was quite clear–but none of my photos are!<\/em><\/p>\n

I found my Virginia Rail family (actually there was apparently more than one family in the same wetland) at a city park in Burlington called Kerncliff Park. I saw reports though of Rail chicks in other marshes around the Greater Toronto Area including in Cranberry and Lynde Shores in Whitby and in Ajax. There probably are some nesting in the Rattray Marsh, as the adults have been heard and occasionally seen but there are so many places for them to stay hidden it\u2019s not a great place to go looking.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

Why Is Kerncliff Park a Good Place to See the Virginia Rail Chicks?<\/h2>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nThese little guys move very quickly–probably a good strategy in a world full of predators.<\/em><\/p>\n

The greatest thing about watching the Virginia Rails at Kerncliff Park is that I never had to step off trail to do it. They have a small board walk through their cattail marsh with two benches for sitting and waiting. In 2018, small clearings with lovely muddy edges were easily visible from the board walk. Although I did not see the Rails each time I walked along the board walk, I did see them each time I visited the park\u2014I just went along the board walk several times each visit, slowly, looking to see if they would appear.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nWell, at least you can see the huge feet and long toes I was warbling on about!<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nProof that these are indeed Virginia Rail chicks: a fast moving parent zipped by, calling to its chicks as it hunted.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nBy July 2, my little black puffballs had fledged into partially plumed adults. This one spent about 10 minutes preening: I bet those new feathers itch when they grow in.<\/em><\/p>\n

In June, it was a bit easier to find them because the mother made an interesting call as she walked, possibly to help her chicks know where she was as she moved through the towering plants. By July, she was less vocal (and the chicks were mostly fledged so possibly were on their own) and the Red-winged Blackbird fledglings were so noisy calling to any adults around that listening was less helpful.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nNot all chicks are adorable–this Red-winged Blackbird fledgling looked as grumpy as it sounded!<\/em><\/p>\n

What Else Does Kerncliff Park Have to Offer?<\/h2>\n

Even when I didn\u2019t see the Rails, I enjoyed each walk along the board walk. I saw a tremendous number of, um, reptiles including over a dozen Midland Painted Turtles. If I had to guess, I would say that the park does not have a resident Great Blue Heron because none of the critters seemed to worry about basking in clear view.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

There were also lovely purple Violet Dancer damselfies, feisty Common Whitetail dragonflies, and fast-flying 12 Spotted Skimmers. Eastern Phoebes, Gray Catbirds, American Robins, Yellow Warblers and Song Sparrows were all feeding fledglings around the marsh. And both a Monarch and a Tiger Swallowtail flew over the cattails.<\/p>\n

I suspect I\u2019ll make another trip to Kerncliff Park in 2019\u2014even if I don\u2019t have a hearing test scheduled nearby next year!<\/p>\n

Related Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n