My most recent trip to Magee Marsh had several highlights. One was this life bird for me, the Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola). The sexes are similar and both build the nests - which is exactly what this rail was doing. The large clump of fallen cattails to the right was the nest location, burried underneath and out of view. But he or she kept busy emerging from the cattails to select narrow stems of various lengths and carrying them back inside.

Location: Magee Marsh State Park, OH