The Gallinule, or Marsh Hen is the real family group of the marsh. All along the grassy edges of the river, the bright red face shields on little families of mom and dad and maybe five chicks can be seen. They tend their children and gather grasses to weave their nests, then in the evening they gather on the edge of the lake in flocks of 50 or more. I like to sit on Big Sawgrass Lake in the early evening - watching the sun go down, and listening to the soft conversation of the Gallinules echo over the still water.

If disturbed, a flock of Gallinule will all take off in the same direction - "walking on water". They don't often fly much higher than a wing-beat above the water, and when they want to move the flock in a hurry they will beat their wings just enough to raise their bodies out of the water, then run real fast. If they are in grassy water their long green toes can push against the grasses, moving them along pretty good.