Moorhen Islands:Moorhen Islands:Providing a SafeProviding a SafeBreeding Habitat Breeding Habitat

in anin anUrban EnvironmentUrban Environment

Ernie FrankeErnie Frankeeafranke@tampabay.rr.comeafranke@tampabay.rr.com

August 2015August 2015

•Provide a Breeding Habitat in an Urban Environment•Identify the Common Moorhen–Distinguish Moorhen from Coot and Gallinule•Identify Habits–Mating Habits–Fierce Territorial Integrity: Defense of Homeland–Practice of “Aunting” Among Juveniles•Point Out Nesting Requirements–Location•Stormwater Retention Pond•Urban Environment–Isolation Requirements•Moorhens Are Skittish; Therefore Needs Isolation

•Why Create Moorhen Breeding Islands? –Opportunity for Observation in an Urban Environment–Increase Conservation-Awareness ofUrban Dwellers•Recommend Maidencane Over Torpedo Grass–Maidencane Is Native to Florida; Torpedo Grass Is Exotic–Excellent Plant for Shoreline Stabilization•Moorhen Island Only Good for Two or Three Years–Weeds Grow So Fast That island Becomes a Solid Mass

Purpose of Conservation Module on MoorhensPurpose of Conservation Module on Moorhens

Build it (nesting environment) and they will come!2

What Are Moorhen Breeding Islands?What Are Moorhen Breeding Islands?•Small Islands Formed in One-to-Two Foot Deep Water•Size: Typically Two-to-Five Feet Across•Plant Coverage: Torpedo Grass (Non-Native) or Maidencane (Florida-Native)–Weeds Provide a Natural Bedding / Hiding Area–Automatic Re-Seeding and Fertilizer Application–Up-Close Smell of an Island Similar to a Chicken Coop•Building Islands Starts with Patches of Existing Pickerelweed or Duck Potato•Add Torpedo Grass or Maidencane –Typically Already Available In and Around the Retention Pond–Islands Must Be Formed to Contain the Spread of These Weeds•Must Have a Water Barrier Around the Island•Both Torpedo Grass and Maidencane Are Invasive•Need Definite Line-of-Demarcation for These Invasive Grasses

•Moorhens Use the Same Island for Breeding Year-after-Year•If Moorhens Are Nearby in a Bayou, Neighborhood Park, or in Other Retention Ponds, They Will Welcome the Safe Haven of Your Nesting Island•Moorhen Parents and Brood Use Island as a Motel–Bring Their Brood Out in the Morning and Return at Dusk•Parents, Juveniles and Brood Leave the Island at Sun-Up•Eat Seeds Along the Banks During the Morning•Return to Island for a Siesta Around Noon•Return to Feeding on Seeds in the Afternoon•Retire to Island for Protection before Sunset

–Stay Under Cover During the Night and During Cold, Rainy Days

Moorhen islands may look scruffy to us, but they look like home to a moorhen.3

Pictures of Moorhen Breeding IslandsPictures of Moorhen Breeding Islands

Osprey Pond

Quail Pond

Moorhen Breeding Island

Cormorant Pond

Moorhens live at the water’s edge, thus fitting them nicely for life in a retention pond.

Moorhen Breeding Island

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Notes on Moorhen Breeding IslandsNotes on Moorhen Breeding Islands•Moorhen Island–Must Have water Rim Around the Island•Provides Isolation for Nesting Moorhen–Prevents Predators from Invading Nest•Provides Isolation for Invasive Torpedo Grass or Maidencane–Prevents Invasive Grass from Destroying Pond

Moorhen islands may only have a life of two or three years, due to the invasive nature of the torpedo grass or maidencane. 5

Moorhen Nest Amongst Pickerelweed

Moorhen build nests on top of pickerelweed, dollar weed, alligator weed, duck potato, torpedo grass and maidencane.

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Several Eggs Have Hatched and the Chicks Have Left the Nest

Why Create Moorhen Breeding Islands?Why Create Moorhen Breeding Islands?•Moorhens Aren’t Colorful, Cute or Cuddly•But They Are Interesting!–Interesting Mating Habits–Fierce Territorial Integrity

•Moorhen Islands Provide a Refuge for Protection and Mating–Safe from Hawks, Herons, Egrets and Ospreys–Provide Protected Nesting Area in an Urban Situation•Numerous Storm-Water Retention Ponds Available for Breeder Islands•Two to Three Broods Each Year

•Allows Observation of Moorhens in an Urban Environment–Urban Dwellers Love to Watch the Antics of Moorhens•It’s Hard to Beat the Sight of New Chicks•Moorhen Intimidation of Ducks Is Another Treat

–In an Urban Environment, Moorhens Need a Buffer Zone•Allows Observation Without Disturbance•Water Serves as a Buffer Zone from Observers•Moorhens Retreat to Their Island Haven Each Night

•Counter-Balances Developers’ Destruction of Their Environment–Largest Decrease of Waterfowl Is Due to Loss of Environment–Loss of Water-Edge Habitat Is the Greatest•Large Desire for “Golf Course” Environment in Urban Environment

–Islands Look Scruffy, But They Serve a Purpose–Move from Esthetics to Conservation

Moorhen islands increase conservation awareness by providing a safe haven in an increasingly-hostile urban environment. 7

•Florida Moorhen (Common) - Gallinula Chloropus•Other Names–Common Moorhen or Florida Gallinule–Poule d‘Eau and Pollo de Agua (French and Spanish for Water Chicken)

•Medium-Sized Member of the Rail Family•12” to 15” in length, Typically 13”•Wingspan of a Little Under Two Feet•White Stripes on Its Sides•Legs and Feet Are a Striking Yellow-Green•Red “Garter" at the Top of the Legs•Long Toes Make It Possible to Walk on Soft Mud and Floating Vegetation–Toes Have No Webbing to Help in Swimming

•Conspicuous Red Frontal Shield•Eye Is Red•Males and Females Are Similar–Males Are Slightly Larger

How Would You Best Describe a Moorhen?How Would You Best Describe a Moorhen?

The moorhen is a highly-visible specie with a vivid red frontal crest,red garters at the top of its legs, and a yellow beak, resembling a candy-corn. 8

Common Moorhen DietCommon Moorhen Diet•Most of the Time, You’ll See Moorhens Looking for Food–More Noticeable During Nesting Season When Feeding the Chicks•Diet:–Vegetation: Seeds of Grasses and Sedges, Berries–Algae, Small Fish, Tadpoles, Worms and Insects–Mollusks: Especially Snails–Mostly Pecking the Shoreline for Seeds and Bugs•Opportunistic Feeder: Eats the Most Abundant Foods Available–Feeds While Floating in Water or Walking on Plants–Scoops Up Floating Seeds: “Surface Sifting"–Dips Head, Dabbles and Occasionally Dives–Flips Floating Leaves to Remove Snails Clinging to Undersides–Dives to Gather the Seeds, Leaves and Roots of Aquatic Plants–On Land: Walks with High-Stepping Gait and Pecks at the Ground Like a Chicken–In Water: No Web Fee, Much Like “Dog-Paddling”

Food

Moorhens are omnivorous and feed while walking on plants or while floating on the water. 9

Bizarre Behavior?Bizarre Behavior?•Skittish Behavior of “Water Chickens”–Nervous Behavior Led Them to Being Called “Skitty Coots”•Male Does Most of the Nest Sitting, While the Female Defends the Site•Though Timid by Nature, Breeding Season Brings Aggressive Nature Towards Both Members of Their Own Species, As Well As Anything That Threatens the Nest or Their Young•Moorhens Become Very Protective of Their Nesting Area–Defensive: Distress or Broken Wing Techniques•If Danger Is Sensed, They Start Screaming•If Too Close to a Nest with Eggs, They Will Dart Out Holding What looks Like a Broken Wing, Screaming “Help, I’m Injured; Come Eat Me!”

–Offensive: Every Creature Must Leave•Lifespan/Longevity–Fairly Susceptible to Nest Predation or Predation at a Young Age–Majority of Chicks Die within the First Year–Many of the Remaining Birds Die in the Second Year–Lifespan: 11 years max, Typically 3 years•Communication and Perception–Very Territorial–Females Use Many Antagonistic Displays Toward Other Females•Low Posture and the Half-Opening of the Wings

Behavior

Moorhens from friendly, social birds to fiercely-territorial warriors during mating and nesting season. 10

•Condo Owners Know the Problems with Ducks (Poopers)–Seniors Love to Feed Ducks–Where There Are Ducks, There Is Messy Poop•Ducks Even Wait Outside the Condo Elevator for Next Meal–Feeding Increases Possibility of Attracting Muscovy Ducks•Disease-Ridden, Super-Poopers–Raising Moorhens Actually Keeps the Ducks Away•Though Timid by Nature, Breeding Season Brings Aggressive Nature•Moorhens Are Furiously Defensive of Their Breeding Area–A Single Moorhen Can Rid a Dozen Mallards or Mottled Ducks–Moorhen Assumes the Attack Position»Behavior Similar to an “Attack Goose” or a “Watch-Goose”»Neck Feathers Ruffled»Head Lowered Down Near the Ground and Charges»Full-Speed Ahead, Oblivious to the World Around»Intimidates from Shear “Moxie”

•While Common Moorhens May Look Like Barnyard Chickens, Their Behavior in the Face of Danger Is Anything But Skittish–Just Ask Any Predator That’s Ever Been Jack-Hammered by the Wildly Pecking Beak of the Common Moorhen–Especially Prevalent During Brooding Season–Lack-of-Fear During Spring Nesting Season

Admirably Defensive of Their Homeland?Admirably Defensive of Their Homeland?

Similar to to adopting a “Do not feed the ducks” campaign, we proactively provide a natural habitat to the much-preferred moorhen. 11

Geographic Range of the Common MoorhenGeographic Range of the Common Moorhen

Moorhens are year-round residents throughout all of Florida.12

Watching Moorhen ChicksWatching Moorhen Chicks

Senior citizens love to “keep-track” of their moorhens.13

Common Moorhen BehaviorCommon Moorhen Behavior•Reproduction–Average Age for Sexual or Reproductive Maturity: 12 months–Breeding Starts: Late March–Number of Clutches: 1 to 3•Early Spring (March – April)•Summer (May – June)•Late Summer (August – September)

•Mating System: Monogamous•Nesting–Male Gathers the Twigs–Female Builds the Nest Among Vegetation in the Water–Builds Several Nests•Once the Chicks Leave the Nest, Other Nests Used for Sleeping

•Chicks Have Black, Downy Feathers Except Around the Eye and Bill•Juveniles Have Browner Underparts and Lack Red Frontal Shield•Courtship–Male Brings Aquatic Weeds to the Female–He Fans Out Its Tail, to Display the White Undertail•Both Adults Build the Nest

Moorhens produce three clutches each year; early Spring, Summer and late Summer. 14

AuntingAunting•With Multiple Broods Each Year, Managing as Many as Three in One Year Is Possible•Second and Subsequent Broods Are Often Fed and Guarded by Adolescent Members of Earlier Broods•One of the Few Birds That Does This–Permitting Another Moorhen to Act as a Parent•Aunting Makes Them Better Parents–Moorhens Raised without Acting as Aunts, Do Not Make Good Parents•Their First Brood Usually Gets Taken Away by Egrets•Moorhen That Has Been an Aunt Is More Protective of Her Brood

Moorhens are one of the few birds that exhibit “aunting”, where the juveniles help feed and look-after the latest brood. 15

Marsh

•Most Invasive Aquatic Weed in Florida–Family: Poaceae, Which Includes Cogongrass and Bermudagrass•Named for Its Sharp-Pointed or Torpedo-Like Growing Tips–Grows Up to 3 feet Tall•Grows In or Near Shallow Waters Forming Monocultures–Quickly Displaces Native Vegetation–Found in Upland Situations and a Frequent Problem in Sod Production•Native to Africa and/or Asia–Introduced to United States before 1876–Early 1900’s, USDA Imported Torpedo Grass for Cattle Pastureland–Spread of Torpedo Grass Limited to Rhizome Expansion or Fragmentation•Seed Does Not Germinate Well Under Florida Conditions

Torpedo-Headed Rhizome

Torpedo Grass: Panicum repens Torpedo Grass: Panicum repens (http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/482)(http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/482)

16Because of the invasive nature of torpedo grass, chances are very good

that it has invaded your littoral area already.

MaidencaneMaidencane:: Panicum hemitomonPanicum hemitomon (http://plants.(http://plants.ifasifas..uflufl..eduedu/node/306)/node/306)•Florida-Native Plant–Forms Large Stands in the Water or on Dry Banks–Associated with Freshwater Wetlands, Marshes, River Margins, and Drainages–Often Confused with Torpedo Grass, Para Grass, Cupscale Grass or Blue Maidencane–Provides Food, Protection and Nesting Materials for Wildlife

•Distribution: –Aquatic or Semi-Aquatic, Growing in Water or Wet Soils–Only Found in Freshwater, Not Brackish Water–Common in the Everglades and Other Regions in Florida–Sprouts from Rhizome in Winter and Grows Over the Course of Year–Most Dense in Summer and Fall•Description: Grass–Perennial, Extensive Rhizomes•Spreads Via Rhizome to Form Large Colonies–Long, Narrow Stems to 6 ft•Produces Few Seed Heads–Seed Heads Are Often Sterile

–Leaf Blades: Alternating Pattern•Flat or Folded, Wide: 1” wide, 12” Long

Maidencane, often confused with torpedo grass, provides shoreline stabilization against erosion, as well as providing material for moorhen nests.

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Eggs, Brood Size, Nests and Nesting MaterialEggs, Brood Size, Nests and Nesting Material•Nest Description–Bowl-Shaped, Made of Twigs, Grasses, Sedges, Reeds and Rushes–Lined with Leaves and Other Plants–Usually Taken from Near the Nest Site•Build Nest within a Few Feet of the Water–Sometimes Even Built on Floating Plants in the Water–Because They Are So Close to the Water, Nests Often Lost to Flooding•Nesting Facts–Clutch Size: 3 to 15 Eggs, Typically 5 to 7 Eggs–Younger Hens Lay Smaller Clutches Than Older Birds–Lays at a Rate of One Egg per Day–Eggs Hatch in 17 to 22 days, Tended by Both Parents•Egg Description: Camo Coloring–Gray or Cinnamon/Buff with Variable Speckles and Splotches•Purplish-Brown and Grayish Blotching and Spotting–Depends on Minerals Present in Bird’s Diet•Number of Broods Each Year (Season)–In Florida, Normally Two, Rarely Three Broods, Using Same Nests–Best Chance for Three Broods If First Brood Emerges before April–Last Brood in August–Younger Hens Start Laying Later in the Year than Older Birds

Nest

Younger hens lay smaller clutches than older birds and start laying later.18

Eggs, Brood Size, Nests and Nesting MaterialEggs, Brood Size, Nests and Nesting Material

Common moorhens typically lay five to seven eggs, three times a year. 19

Moorhen NestingMoorhen Nesting

Newly hatched chicks have spurs on their wings, that help them climb into the nest or grab emergent vegetation. 20

Common Moorhen Chicks Are PrecocialCommon Moorhen Chicks Are Precocial•Moorhen Chicks are Precocial–“Precocial" Derived from Precocious, Implying Early Maturity•Hatched or Born in an Advanced State•Born with Their Eyes Open•Covered with Gray Down Except on Head and Wings•Able to Feed Themselves within a Few Days of Birth•Young Leave the Nest within 2 to 3 Days of Hatching

•Incubation–Starts with First Egg, with Young Hatching Over 2 or 3 Days–Usually 2 or 3 Hatch First, and Go Off with One Adult–The Rest Follow and Stick with the Other Parent•Chicks Fed by Both Adults–Both Parents Incubate Eggs and Feed the Young on Insects and Seeds–As Young Mature, Diet Expands to Vegetation, Insects and Worms•Chicks Are Mainly Fluffy Black–Small Wings and Dark legs•Look Too Big for the Body

•Fledge in about 5 to 7 weeks–Young Bird Fends for Themselves–Juvenile Birds Are Gray-Colored–Parents Then Start a New Brood

Newly-hatched chicks stay close to their parents for about one to two months.21

Juvenile (preJuvenile (pre--Breeding) MoorhenBreeding) Moorhen

The juvenile moorhens is brownish with paler throat and belly. It has dull, whitish-buff stripe on its flanks, and its bill and legs are dusky.

As the moorhen matures over a six-month period, the gray coat turns black and the beak turns from black to orange.

Nearly Mature(Beak Is Still Gray)

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Youngsters at One Month Old, Almost Ready to Fledge from ParentsYoungsters at One Month Old, Almost Ready to Fledge from Parents

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Female Moorhen FightingMoorhen Fighting•Female Moorhens Fight to Mark Mating Season–Signals Start of Mating Season with a Display of Fighting–None of Them Suffer Any Visible Injuries–Often a Bit of Posturing before They Get Down to a Good Scrap–Fights Last About 20 minutes - It's All About Territory–After Competition Is Finished, Female Engages in Bill-Dipping with the Male, Signaling Courtship Rituals –Female Will Communicate with a Murmur Call, When She Is Ready to Mate

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Afternoon Brawl at LocalAfternoon Brawl at Local PondPond(dinascitywildlife.com/2015/03/11/afternoon(dinascitywildlife.com/2015/03/11/afternoon--brawlbrawl--atat--thethe--locallocal--pond/)pond/)

•Moorhens at Local Park in Largo, FL Nature Preserve•Behavior Starts During Mating Season: March or April in Florida•Fought in the Water, Feet to Each Other’s Chest, Trying to Push Each Other Underwater and Pecking Each Other’s Bill Furiously, While Flapping Their Wings for Balance•Both Moorhens Exhausted, But Unharmed

Females fight over a mate, rather different than other animals. 25