Posted by Paul on March 09, 2003 at 11:33:56:
What a racket, they make. These limpkins. As weird a cry as ever you could expect, especially if you are poling the pirouge down the bayou at night in Louisianna. But even at Wakodahatchee, here in Florida these birds cause a stir with the tourists that keep asking "what was that?" "What is the frightful call?" The loud, anguished, scream or wail is described by Sibley as "kwEEErrrrrrrrr". And that is being polite. This is one call that you have to hear to believe. The limpkins in question are nest building on the south walkway just about 50 feet off the hard right turn to head southbound. Set yourself at the 90 degree angle and look northeast and you will see a large clump of alligator Flag that has a suspicious opening or cave-like look. They be in there. But the male, he is flying about and bragging about things so you wont have too much trouble seeing him. And that "funy little stick" that you see hanging out of his beak...that's his tongue. It tends to "throw you" when you first see it. It's all there, birding at Wakodahatchee.