are located on elevated sites (15 to 25 cm or 6 to 10 in) 

 near secondary and tertiary tidal creeks. 



Many nests are destroyed by high water or preda- 

 tion. The most common predator is the raccoon. Fish 

 crows and gulls also take eggs and young (Blandin 

 1963, Imhof 1976, Sharpe 1976, Sanderson 1977). 



Hunting pressure on both species is light. The most 

 serious problem facing the species is habitat destruc- 

 tion (Sanderson 1977). In southeastern Texas, king rail 

 numbers have been greatly reduced, primarily where 

 mercury-based fungicides are used on seed rice (Ober- 

 holser 1974). 



5.3.22 PURPLE GALLINULE (Porphyrula martinica) 

 and COMMON GALLINULE {Gallinula chlo- 

 ropus) 



Louisiana is the most northerly wintering area for 

 purple gallinules (Sanderson 1977). Most birds begin 

 arriving in eary April and leave by late October 

 (Lowery 1974a). It is resident in all of Louisiana dur- 

 ing the summer, but its winter range is restricted to the 

 southern parishes. It is most abundant in the Chenier 

 Plain from eariy April to mid-November (Lowery 

 1974a), although small numbers remain throughout the 

 winter months (Bell and Cordes in press). 



Both species are territorial and diurnal. Their daily 

 movements are usually restricted to local areas. 



Gallinules occur in ponds, lakes, swamps, canals, 

 rice fields, and marshes (Lowery 1974a, Oberholser 

 1974, Olsen 1975, Sanderson 1977, Bell and Cordes 

 in press). Imhof (1976) reported that common galli- 

 nules are more tolerant of saline habitats than are pur- 

 ple gallinules, althougli the greatest numbers of both 

 species are found in fresh marshes (Sanderson 1977, 

 Bell and Cordes in press). Population densities in the 

 large freshwater impoundment on Lacassine National 

 Wildlife Refuge were estimated to be 0.8 common gal- 

 linules/ha and 1.2 purple gallinules/ha during August 

 (Bell and Cordes in press). 



Emergent vegetation is a major requirement of 

 nesting habitat (Oberholser 1974, Bell and Cordes in 

 press). On Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge, purple 

 gallinules nested in maidencane and common gallinules 

 nested in bulltongue (Bell and Cordes in press). 



Gallinules consume a variety of foods, including 

 southern wild rice, wild millet, flowers of the white 

 waterlily, various grasses, insects, mollusks, and worms 

 (Oberholser 1974, Imhof 1976, Sanderson 1977, Bell 

 and Cordes in press). Common gallinules are also 

 known to feed on carrion (Guillory and LeBlanc 

 1975). Bell and Cordes (in press) reported that com- 

 mon gallinules fed in deeper water and over greater 

 areas than purple galhnules. During severe weather, 

 both species often seek shelter in dense stands of 

 vegetation. Predators of the gallinules include large 

 mouth bass, alligator, bowfin, gar, and snapping turtles 

 (Bell and Cordes in press). 



5.3.23 AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana) 



Coots are common in Louisiana from early Sep- 

 tember to late April and are most abundant in winter 

 (Lowery 1974a, Imhof 1976). By mid-October, about 

 650,000 coots have migrated to Louisiana. Peak num- 

 bers of American coots that winter in Louisiana range 

 from 635,000 to 1,639,000. There are about 4,944 

 km^ (1,909 mi^) of habitat available for nesting and 

 18,210 km^ (7,031 mi^) for migrating and wintering 

 populations in Louisiana (Sanderson 1977). About 

 1 1,219 km^ (4,375 mi^) are available for all categories 

 of habitats in Texas. 



Coots occur mostly in marshy areas, ponds, and 

 streams in the summer, and in coastal bays, lakes, and 

 lagoons in the winter (Oberholser 1938). 



Seventy-five percent of the diet of the American 

 Coot is composed of plants (Jones 1940). Food in- 

 cludes leaves and seeds of aquatic plants such as duck- 

 week, widgeongrass, pondweed, spikerush, sedges, and 

 grasses, as well as waste grain (Sanderson 1977, Imhof 

 1976). In summer, animal material composes an impor- 

 tant part of their diet and includes insects, mollusks, 

 fish, crustaceans, worms, spiders, and other water ani- 

 mals (Sanderson 1977, Imhof 1976). Food is taken 

 from the water surface or along the shoreline (Jones 

 1940). Ortego et al. (1976) observed coots feeding in 

 open water near emergent aquatic vegetation. Chicks 

 feed on insects and eggshells found in the nest (Sander- 

 son 1977). During migration coots gather in areas 

 where food is available. 



The American coot does not usually nest in south- 

 western Louisiana. Nests have been found on Lacassine 

 National Wildlife Refuge in Cameron Parish and 

 Avery Island in Vermilion Parish. Sanderson (1977) 

 noted that coots nest most frequently on fresh water. 

 In Texas, the American coot nests in muddy, reedy, 

 and grassy margins of pools, lakes, sloughs, rivers, and 

 creeks (Oberholser 1974). Prime nesting habitat, 

 according to Sanderson (1977), consists of 50% open 

 water and 50% emergent aquatic plants such as bulrush 

 and cattail. Nests of the American coot are situated 

 over water. A clutch consists of 8 to 12 eggs that are 

 incubated for 21 to 22 days (Sanderson 1977, Jones 

 1940). Muskrat houses may be used as nest sites in lieu 

 of the more common floating nests. Coots may renest 

 (Sanderson 1977), and nesting territories are actively 

 defended (Jones 1940). 



Because the nest is often located over, or floating 

 on water, the birds are relatively secure from predators. 

 Young, however, are eaten by bass, turtles, and snakes 

 (Imhof 1976). Effective waterfowl management is 

 highly beneficial to American coots. 



5.3.24 AMERICAN WOODCOCK (Philohela minor) 



Few American woococks nest in Louisiana (Lowery 

 1974a), but the largest winter concentrations in the 



237 



