The "Rare Bird Sighted At Middle Creek" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Was reading in my daily newspaper about a fairly rare bird being sighted in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania area known as the limpkin.  The limpkin that was sighted was seen at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area along Kleinfeltersville Road in Clay Township.  Wasn't long before word got out and the bird drew a large crowd to the area.  The limpkin is a large heron-like bird that reminds you of a gangly ibis.  The limpkin is brown with white spots and streaks, densest on the head and neck.  It's long yellowish bill is slightly curved.  The bird is usually found in marshes or swamps, often with trees and shrubs, but also regularly seen at the edges of ponds in otherwise highly managed city parks.  The limpkin feeds almost entirely on apple snails.  

The birds are usually found by themselves or in pairs.  Very seldom are they found in a large group.  They have a very distinctive voice which is a loud, creaky wail, often heard as an eerie jungle sound effect that you might hear in movie films.  For those who made it to Middle Creek, they were rewarded to see this rare bird which might be the first to ever be seen in Pennsylvania. "It's the type of bird that you never would expect to see in your area." Mr. Ted Nichols, President of the Lancaster Bird Club said, "It's just really a good moment for birding."  Mr. Nichols said, "It was sort of like Christmas morning."  In the United States, limpkins have typically lived in Florida.  Since around 2016, the states bordering Florida have seen an uptake in sightings, as the bird species have moved north.  I guess the one at Middle Creek got lost!  This particular bird found a jackpot of a location with an extensive shoreline, multiple water impoundments and plenty of snails with no other predators.  Mr. Nichols believes the bird will stay here for some time since it found a jackpot of a location for food choices.  But, then again, birds do crazy things, just like people.  So, if you want to see the bird, you better get to Middle Creek before the bird decides to change his address.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.