Water rail

Water rail (rallus aquaticus). The natural habitat of this bird borrows almost all Europe, except for its extreme northern part, western and a part of Central Asia and Far East. In Belarus it is widespread in all territory though it can be met more often in southern areas. In general this kind isn’t numerous and is usual only in separate places. Water rail conducts a twilight way of life, i.e. it is most active early in the morning and after the sunset. At this time it can be noticed on edge of reed or mace reed thickets, at an edge of water on oozy shallows and swamp spaces, under the flat dense textures of branches of bushes on boggy places. Thus the bird avoids the extensive open spaces and seldom departs from the edge of thickets. It is possible to judge about the dwelling of this bird in the lands on the basis of the sounds published by it especially during the marriage period. Among them the sounds reminding grunting and squeal of a pig are especially original. Water rail occupies various growing reservoirs, but most often it can be found out on boggy and growing willow and mace reed coast of water basins and fish-breeding ponds. Willingly it settles on the edges of growing former riverbed in valleys of the flat rivers, in boggy meadows of average and small slowly-flowing rivers, on growing lakes. Very attractive for the water rail are old peat career overgrown with bushes and also open surfaces with water among low-lying swamps. Water rail does not form large congestions. In the autumn its flying away occurs gradually and barely visible. It starts in August - September, but can be tightened till November, i.e. before it begins to frosts. During the period of migration this bird is met one by one or on some individuals, it is usual in fodder places. These birds fly at night and stop in typical for itself water or boggy lands in the afternoon. Though water rail also concerns to the hunting fauna, purposefully hunting for it is not almost conducted. It is casually extracted at hunting for waterfowl and marsh birds. As the wildfowl water rail possesses quite good qualities.