Dave Albin recently had a peculiar winged visitor in the backyard of his home in northwest Indiana. The bird, a purple gallinule, with its bright yellow feet, purple feathers and red beak, is native to tropical marshy areas of North and South America. But for some reason, the bird stuck around the koi ponds of Dave’s home. For weeks, Dave and his neighbors enjoyed the bird, even christening it “Froot Loops.” But as word got out about Dave’s rare bird, his country getaway became the epicenter of Midwestern bird watching. Dave found himself watching the birders as much as the bird.
July 08, 2010
July 08, 2010
birder.jpg

The purple gallinul
Credit:
Dave Albin