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NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 67 



the frequency of catch. In high population areas, such as some Clapper 

 Kail marshes, traps should be checked four or five times a day. In areas 

 of low population, two or three times a day is adequate, as too frequent 

 disturbance will frighten rails from trapping sites. 



In areas of high predation by raccoons, opossums {Didelphis virgin- 

 iana) , minks, and domestic rats, it is well to leave traps open at night. 

 TVhen operating on a 24-hour basis it is important to check the trap 

 at dusk or shortly thereafter. Rails left in traps at night in areas of 

 high predator populations will almost without exception be destroyed. 

 This is especially so because paths made by the operator seem to become 

 natural highways for mammals. 



Between dusk and dawn I virtually never caught rails (King, Vir- 

 ginia, or Sora) in traps at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. 

 Most species of North American Rallidae are not as active at night as 

 during the day. Some rails are vociferous at night especially during 

 the breeding season; however, at that time they call mainly from 

 territories. 



When I first started trapping rails, I expected to encounter trouble 

 with muskrats getting into traps. They do get into traps occasionally, 

 but burrow out quickly, and I have never had to remove a single animal. 



AGE FOR BANDING KING RAIL CHICKS 



Downy young can be banded at 2 weeks of age, a few individuals as 

 early as 10 days. The band size is number 5. 



NEED FOR BANDING DATA 



In view of the paucity of information on movements and popula- 

 tion dynamics of rails, a large number of these birds should be banded. 

 To accomplish this, it is necessary to know which methods are best 

 for capturing rails, where to place traps, and in what geographic areas. 



The all-Purpose or cloverleaf trap with drift fences is the best known 

 device for capturing rails for banding. 



The best areas for trapping are usually determined by noting calls, 

 reading "sign" (tracks, droppings, piece of discarded crayfish), and 

 locating nests. 



Localities in which I have found high populations are as follows : In 

 Louisiana marshes near the intersection of the Intracoastal Waterway 

 and the road to Pecan Island ; just below the intersection of the Water- 

 way along the road to Creole, and in a silted-in canal near Dulac ; in 

 marshes across the river (north) from Savannah, Ga. ; and in marshes 

 on the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge near Savannah. 



