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 **************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222377049x1201454365/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd= JunestepsfooterNO62) =================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER===================== The TN-Bird Net requires you to SIGN YOUR MESSAGE with first and last name, CITY (TOWN) and state abbreviation. You are also required to list the COUNTY in which the birds you report were seen. The actual DATE OF OBSERVATION should appear in the first paragraph. _____________________________________________________________ To post to this mailing list, simply send email to: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx _____________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, send email to: tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. ______________________________________________________________ TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s) endorse the views or opinions expressed by the members of this discussion group. Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ------------------------------ Assistant Moderator Andy Jones Cleveland, OH ------------------------------- Assistant Moderator Dave Worley Rosedale, VA __________________________________________________________ Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society web site at http://www.tnbirds.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ARCHIVES TN-Bird Net Archives at //www.freelists.org/archives/tn-bird/ MAP RESOURCES Tenn.Counties Map at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/states/tennessee3.gif Aerial photos to complement google maps http://local.live.com _____________________________________________________________