Harry and others,
Thanks very much for the interesting information about rails and owls
calling while migrating at night.
Regarding Water Rails (Rallus aquaticus), I have heard them calling
in flight at night twice in areas where there was little likelihood
of breeding. Once, over a Balearic Shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus)
colony in the Mediterranean, i.e. salt water, and once over a village
in a part of Portugal where the species is not known to breed. Both
instances were in early spring: mid March and early April.
I have a couple of questions for listeners anywhere in the world, but
especially North America.
1) Do your rails use the same migration flight calls in spring and
autumn?
2) Are any of the rail migration calls known to be sex-specific?
3) Which call does Sora (Porzana carolina) use on migration flights?
That might tell us which call to expect from its Palearctic relative,
Spotted Crake (Porzana porzana).
Incidentally, Tengmalm's Owl as mentioned by Harry is the same
species known as Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) in North America.
Harry, did Janne mention which call/song-type the owls were using as
the flock moved past?
best regards,
Magnus Robb
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