[TN-Bird] Virginia Rail in Nashville, Davidson Co.

6-13-09
 
There is a very cooperative Virginia Rail being seen in a non-birder's  
backyard in Nashville.  Amy Martin first saw the bird about a week ago  coming 
to her beautiful fish pond habitat and later identified it.  I went  over to 
check it out and was surprised to indeed find a Virginia Rail in  the heart 
of the city, right near Vanderbilt.  It has a drooping left wing  so may 
not be able to fly.  But it seems content to forage and bathe at  this time.  
 
Amy is a delightful person and welcomes birders to come see it, though  
only when she is at home from 6:20-8:00 AM and 6:20-8:00 PM, which happens to 
be  when the bird is most active anyway.  Please do not come any earlier than 
 that. Amy would also appreciate it if you would call before you  come.  If 
you're planning to arrive in the morning, please  call her the day before.  
Her home number is 615-383-5961 and work is  615-321-4600.  Her address is 
2134 Acklen Ave., Nashville 37212 which  runs west off of 21st Ave. just 
south of Wedgewood and Vanderbilt.  It's a  big, green wooden house.  Walk down 
the driveway and open the gate to the  backyard.  There is a lock on the 
gate but it's not really locked.   Just pull up the metal pole and push the 
gate open.  Please be  sure to close the gate after you get in and after you 
leave.   She has two friendly dogs that she doesn't want to let out to the  
street.  If the dogs try to follow you to the pond, just shoo them  away.  
The pond is located at the back left corner of the backyard.   There are three 
chairs set up for viewing on the near side.  You might want  to bring a 
stool if there are more people.  The rail walks back and  forth on the far side 
of the pond (just 10-20 feet away) in and out of the  vegetation and in the 
open on the ledge of the pond.  It even bathed in the  open when I was 
there!  If you stay still it can be quite  confiding.   It's an excellent 
chance 
for photos.  Please refrain  from using tapes to call it out.  Besides 
being absolutely not  necessary, Amy has asked that we don't.  Just be patient 
and it will  eventually start walking around (usually 3-5 times/hour).
 
It's a beautiful bird, and to be able to see it this well instead of the  
usual quick glances at a skulking bird, is a real  treat.    
 
Jan Shaw
Nashville, TN
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