Common Gallinules (the birds formerly known as Common Moorhens) are year-round residents at Gemini Springs. The local population peaks during the winter with migrants who breed further north in the summer; my winter counts get into double-digits through January.
During the summer I see far fewer gallinules at the park. Maybe the bayou isn’t big enough to support harmony among more gallinules in the summer months? Anyway, this year I had fun watching a little family of Common Gallinules grow up. Note the dates on the following photos; many were taken just a few days apart.
![Common Gallinule](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2863/9544296316_d465639a84_z.jpg)
Parent feeds two young Common Gallinules | 16-APR-13
![Common Gallinule](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3781/9544296062_8d9d22d35d_z.jpg)
Begging baby Common Gallinule | 17-APR-13
![Common Gallinule](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2894/9541507293_b62342256f_z.jpg)
Baby Common Gallinules | 20-APR-13
![Common Gallinule](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5458/9544295510_5ba7f0562b_z.jpg)
Assuming these are the same babes — what a different a week makes! | 26-APR-13
![Common Gallinule](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2891/9544295228_ddcbec2821_z.jpg)
Juvenile Common Gallinule | 29-APR-13
Peeping juvenile Common Gallinules | 29-APR-13
![Common Gallinule](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7316/9541505963_6e54361ebb_z.jpg)
Juvenile Common Gallinules | 04-MAY-13
![Common Gallinule](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3744/9544293964_ee086b3fcb_z.jpg)
Juvenile Common Gallinules | 07-MAY-13
![Common Gallinule](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3818/9541505133_101e9bb917_z.jpg)
Juvenile Common Gallinule | 10-MAY-13
I missed them for much of the rest of May. On June 4th I saw a pair of young gallinules. Are they the same babies I had been following? Or are these daredevils from a new nest? Either way, they almost gave me a heart attack. I do not often see American Alligators at Gemini Springs, but that morning there were two hanging around the fishing pier. The young Common Gallinules seemed to be playing chicken…
![Common Gallinule](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7424/9544293230_685be402c7_z.jpg)
Juvenile Common Gallinules with “friend” | 04-JUN-13
![Common Gallinule](http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3748/9541503967_859f6a3901_z.jpg)
Young Common Gallinule living dangerously | 04-JUN-13
![Common Gallinule](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7361/9544292886_ae7f65cf0d_z.jpg)
Young Common Gallinule | 04-JUN-13
![Common Gallinule](http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2847/9541503519_d1ef361beb_z.jpg)
Young Common Gallinule | 16-JUN-13
June 16th was the last day I saw the young birds, but adults were still around.
This morning Arthur and I visited the park. We sat on the fishing pier, hoping for a kingfisher while watching Boat-tailed Grackles and woodpeckers flying about. After some time Arthur spotted a Common Gallinule. Then another. Then came another, and another, and another, and another. Brood #2? Brood #3? Good luck, little family! I’ll be seeing you…
![Common Gallinule family](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7315/9541682579_7c29264fe9_z.jpg)
Here we go again! | 18-AUG-13
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