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22 October 2024 The First Documented Case of Eastern Black Rail (Laterallus j. jamaicensis) Breeding in Louisiana, U.S.A
Lauren F. Monopoli, Erik I. Johnson, Jonathon T. Lueck, Thomas J. Benson, Mark S. Woodrey, Auriel M. V. Fournier
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

The Eastern Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis jamaicensis) is a federally threatened marsh bird known for its cryptic nature, making the species difficult to study. In Louisiana, U.S.A., Eastern Black Rails have rarely been documented in the state, especially during the summer, and there have been no confirmed breeding records. This study provides the first evidence of Eastern Black Rail breeding in Louisiana. Using motion activated game cameras, we successfully recorded adults with a chick, aged 5–15 days old, on two separate occasions. In addition, unique vocalizations between adults and the chick were recorded by motion activated game cameras. Few records exist for Eastern Black Rail in Louisiana and only recently was a small year-round population documented in the southwest portion of the state. The findings of this study are critical as they further expand our knowledge on the breeding distribution of Eastern Black Rail along the Gulf of Mexico coast.

Lauren F. Monopoli, Erik I. Johnson, Jonathon T. Lueck, Thomas J. Benson, Mark S. Woodrey, and Auriel M. V. Fournier "The First Documented Case of Eastern Black Rail (Laterallus j. jamaicensis) Breeding in Louisiana, U.S.A," Waterbirds 47(2), 1-5, (22 October 2024). https://doi.org/10.1675/063.047.0204
Received: 12 May 2024; Accepted: 11 September 2024; Published: 22 October 2024
KEYWORDS
breeding status
Camera trap
eastern black rail
Laterallus jamaicensis jamaicensis
Louisiana
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