When birders think of a Purple Gallinule, they probably conjure up images of extreme south Florida, deep in the Everglades. These beautiful birds are not even common there. Finding one in Ohio is extremely rare. Years ago, I accompanied Larry Rosche, a top birder from Kent, to suburban Columbus. A Purple Gallinule had been frequenting the fenced-in backyard of a home on the north side of the city. We waited for several hours without any luck, finally thanked the homeowner, and went out to our car. Just before we drove away, she came to the door and said that the bird had just flown in. I thought that Id probably never see another one in Ohio.
Actually, Purple Gallinules are known to wander. Bruce Peterjohn, in Birds of Ohio, said that they have an uncanny knack for appearing at unexpected locations at unexpected times, and may wander north to the Great Lakes and the Canadian Maritime Provinces during any season. The first Ohio specimen was collected south of Columbus on May 10, 1877. The only nesting in Ohio took place in southern Franklin County in May 1962. A pair successfully raised seven young. (Peterjohn, 2001).
Then came the invasion of 2010. As far as I know it started on May 2, when Linda Paull, a park manager at Columbia Reservation discovered a Purple Gallinule feeding in the vegetation at the park wetlands. As I write this column, it is now May 26 and the bird was still being seen as of yesterday. Hundreds of people from all over the state have been treated to wonderful views of this rare bird. Sometimes it is foraging near the shore, allowing birders to see and photograph it at close range. If you search on the Internet for Purple Gallinule in Ohio, you will be able to see photos taken by several nature photographers. You can also search for the Columbia Reservation website for more information about the bird. I called the Lorain County Metroparks at 440-458-5121 to find out current updates on the bird.
After the Columbia Reservation bird was discovered, reports came in from at least five other places around the state where Purple Gallinules had been seen. I dont know if this was due to a weather system or if other factors caused so many birds to end up in Ohio. The result has been a great opportunity for people to have a firsthand look at one of these beautiful birds without going all the way to the Everglades. You might still want to check it out.
Good birding.
