Yellow Rail    Lafayette, LA  -  November 7, 2005

Lee Clark works at the Lafayette Airport, and called yesterday to say I would never guess what bird was in a hanger. My first guess was a hummingbird. Second guess Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Lee decided I was not going to get it, so he told me. I ran out and got a picture

and some video. I posted the video on a putfile web site if you wish to view it.  It is a little large at (3.3 MB) and takes a minute or so to download.

A link to the site:

http://media.putfile.com/Yellow-Rail

We decide to try and catch it at the end of the day and release it away from the airport. Catching it was just a short chase with a fishing net. I passed by Paul Conover's house before bringing it to the rice fields for inspection and a band.

We brought it to the rice fields west of town in my CBC territory and gave instructions for it to stick around until after Christmas. It tumbled from the bag and sat on the ground. A gentle nudge from Paul and off it flew. More video, but shorter (1.2 MB).

http://media.putfile.com/rail-release

Dave Patton

Lafayette, LA