Since before the 1990s, Virginia rail have been documented as 'accidentally' or 'casually' occurring on Haida Gwaii. Recently however, encounters with Virginia rail have become more frequent with better means of tracking their presence through the use of online resources (eBird.org).  As of 2015, Virginia rails have been found in Tlell, Delkatla Wildlife Sanctuary in Masset, Naikoon Provincial Park, Stanley Lake north of Queen Charlotte, and Sandspit. However, we still know little about the origins, behaviours and habitat preferences of the Virginia rail on Haida Gwaii. Are they purely accidental visitors, or do they make up a resident population? If the latter is true, could they be genetically and behaviourally distinct from the mainland population, like several other Haida Gwaii species (e.g., Hairy woodpecker, Northern saw-whet owl, and Steller's jay)?

 

As part of a Simon Fraser University and Haida Gwaii Higher Education Society project, graduate students Laramie Ferguson, Rodrigo Solis, and David Breault, set out to find the Virginia rail and describe their habitat characteristics. They identified a distinct population in Tlell near Misty Meadows. According to their findings, the Virginia rail appears to be affiliated with grass/sedge wetlands and willows. However, this habitat description was limited to only one of the five reported sites, and would benefit from information for other locations.

 

Furthermore, it is exceedingly difficult to get a visual of this shy species. As far as researchers know, there has been little to no photographic evidence of Virginia rail on Haida Gwaii. With photos, researchers may be able to decipher potential physical differences between Haida Gwaii and mainland populations, and further examine the probability of being a distinct sub-species.

 

With your help, more light can be shed on these research questions. If you happen to hear or see the Virginia rail (sound recordings and photos can be found at this website: http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/virginia-rail), you are invited to fill out the survey below that will aid in our understanding of their status and presence on Haida Gwaii. If you have any questions regarding this project or photographic evidence of the Virginia rail, please feel free to contact us at haidagwaiiwildlife@gmail.com.

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Participating as a Wildlife Citizen Scientist

In participating as a citizen scientist, we ask that you respect wildlife and their habitat. We promote non-invasive methods of observation, such that species are not disturbed, especially during critical periods (e.g., breeding, nesting, hibernating, etc.). In the case of the Virginia rail, the recommended method of observation is passive listening at dusk on the edge of a wetland. Wetlands are highly sensitive ecosystems, and walking through them is discouraged. Thank you very much!