Water Rail
Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus )
The Water Rail ( Rallus aquaticus ) is a species of bird in the family squacco birds ( Rallidae ). It is in Central Europe, a breeding and summer bird and sometimes even one years bird.
It describes four subspecies.
Description
The 25 to 30 cm water rail weighs approximately 100 to 190 g and has a wingspan of 40 to 45 cm.
The Water Rail has a short tail and a slightly bent downwards, reddish beak. Sides of head, throat, neck and chest are slate gray to gray- blue. The eyes are reddish and medium length legs with pretty long toes are colored flesh- colored. The plumage on the belly, chest and face is light blue. The back is dark brown marked with black stripes. On the sides is a black and white pattern to find. Males and females have the same coloring.
The chicks are generally black and have a bright beak. The call sounds something like " kruieh " and is reminiscent of a piglet.
Distribution and population
The Water Rail lives in North Africa, in almost all of Europe (except Northern Scandinavia) and in Asia. Larger distribution gaps there are in the highlands of Central Asia. In Central Europe it is a common breeding bird of the wetlands in lowland areas in upland areas. In the northern Alps it still occurs at altitudes up to 1,400 meters.
Rallus aquaticus aquaticus The nominate is in Europe to western Siberia. The subspecies R. a Hibernicus occurs on Iceland, the subspecies R. a korejewi is native to Central Asia and the subspecies R. a indicus lives in East Asia.
The total European population is estimated at 140000-360000 breeding pairs. Stocks with more than 10,000 breeding pairs have, among others, Belarus, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Spain, Turkey and the Ukraine. In Central Europe, a total of 36000-69000 breeding pairs occur. On the development of the stock are very low knowledge. It is certain that there is inventory fluctuations after poor breeding years, for example as a result of long periods of drought or floods. Areal losses and declines there was but after the 1950s, after extensive reed beds were lost. The sharp declines on Lake Constance were mainly due to very severe winter and extreme water level changes during the breeding season. Overall, however, the stock is considered stable.
Habitat
The shy Water Rail feels in wetlands especially well. It prefers very wet areas with lots of reeds and a very dense environment. In addition, Seggenmoore, alder forests and willow thickets and flooded Süßgraswiesen, swamp horsetail and water vapors stocks are essential habitats for this species is essential that the birds between the vegetation can run and that small open water areas are available. She lives accordingly to small bodies of water or in narrow strip of reeds, provided that sufficient funds are available. Since she lives very hidden, it is above all the calls that are betraying their presence.
In winter, some water rails to Southern and Western Europe. It is a stand and line bird in general.
Way of life
Water Rails are loners who defend their feeding areas in winter. This property make conservationists inventory finding advantage. The birds react very quickly to played tape recordings of calls.
The spots in the water rails include an average of about 300 square meters; but can vary considerably in size, depending on the habitat.
The Water Rail feeding on small fish, crustaceans, molluscs, insects and their larvae.
The breeding season extends from April to August. Both partners to build a nest of grass, stems and other plant parts, which is very well hidden in the dense marsh vegetation. The female lays six to twelve about 35 mm large eggs that are warmed by both partners for three weeks until the chicks hatch. The chicks are precocial and fledge after seven to eight weeks.
Stock situation
The Water Rail is one of the endangered bird species. She suffers as well as the similar to her Spotted Crake in particular from the severe destruction of their habitat by drainage, dike construction and the obstruction of natural banks.