There are more Gallinule than any other animal in the marshes. Even though they are everywhere, they are also shy. Most times you only know they are around when they ‘scream’ and run away.

This week a local marsh/rice field is being lowered. Every day there will be a little less water. Birds are flocking in for easy feeding, Gallinule are coming out of the dense reeds. More than I have ever seen in one place.

This marsh is being overrun by cattails and reeds. When the wind is right and the vegetation is dry a controlled burn will clean the grasses out…and start the process of growth all over again.

This is a usual method of land management here. Wildlife moves out ahead of the burn. In this case they go to deeper water or over the dikes into the other marshes or river.