George Sanker / Purple gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) moving across waterlily leaves, Everglades National Park, Florida, USA, April

George Sanker / Purple gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) moving across waterlily covered surface, Everglades National Park, Florida, USA, March

Andy Rouse / Water Rail {Rallus aquaticus} in water, Wales, UK

Andy Rouse / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) on frosty ground beside water, Wales, UK

Andy Rouse / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) on frosty ground beside water, Wales, UK

Hermann Brehm / Grey-necked Wood-rail (Aramides cajanea), Pantanal, Brazil

Andy Trowbridge / Western Weka (Gallirallus australis australis) foraging for food, Oparara River, Kahurangi National Park, Buller District, South Island, New Zealand. December. Vulnerable species.

Andy Trowbridge / Western Weka chick walking along forest edge. Milford Track, Fiordland National Park, Southland, South Island, New Zealand. November, 2006.

Loic Poidevin / Virginia rail (Rallus limicola) in water reeds, Quebec, Canada, May

George Sanker / Purple gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) feeding on waterlily bulb, Everglades National Park, Florida, USA, March

George Sanker / Purple gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) feeding on waterlily stem, Everglades National Park, Florida, USA, March

Barry Mansell / Purple Gallinule (Porphyrula martinica) Everglades, South Florida, USA, May

Barry Mansell / Purple Gallinule (Porphyrula martinica) Everglades National Park, South Florida, USA, May

Barry Mansell / Purple Gallinule (Porphyrula martinica) balancing on stem, Everglades National Park, South Florida, USA, May

Konrad Wothe / Grey necked Wood rail (Aramides cajanea cajanea) Braulio Carrillo National Park, Costa Rica

Alan Williams / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) standing in pond, Merseyside, UK, November.

Alan Williams / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) on water, Merseyside, UK, November.

Alan Williams / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) swimming in pond, Merseyside, UK, November.

Alan Williams / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) walking on moss covered log in pond Merseyside, UK, November.

Alan Williams / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) walking on ice on frozen pond in early morning sunlight, Merseyside, UK, February.

Alan Williams / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) walking on ice on frozen pond in early morning sunlight, Merseyside, UK, February.

Alan Williams / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) walking on ice on frozen pond in early morning sunlight, Merseyside, UK, February.

Alan Williams / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) foraging at edge of pond in early morning light, Merseyside, UK, November.

Alan Williams / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) standing at edge of pond, Merseyside, UK, November.

Alan Williams / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) foraging in pond, Merseyside, UK, November.

Benoit Stichelbaut / Skipper Armel le Cleac'h on his monohull 60ft "Britair" yacht, April 2008

Benoit Stichelbaut / Skipper Armel le Cleac'h with hand on guard rail of his monohull 60ft "Britair" yacht, April 2008

Onne van der Wal / Guard rail detail with sheet running underneath. Saint Barths Bucket Super Yacht Regatta, Caribbean, March 2009.

Rick Tomlinson / SY "Adele", 180 foot Hoek Design, exploring Wilhelmina Bay, Antarctica, January 2007 Non editorial uses must be cleared individually.

Rick Tomlinson / Close up of SY "Adele"'s guard rail fixture supported by a stanchion

Rick Tomlinson / Close up of a deck rail onboard SY "Adele", using a shallow depth of field setting, 2006.

Rick Tomlinson / SY "Adele", 180 foot Hoek Design, approaching Saint Kitts, Caribbean. 2006. Non editorial uses must be cleared individually.

Rick Tomlinson / Evening light on the bow of SY "Adele", 180 foot Hoek Design, in Yankee Harbour, Antarctica, January 2007 Non editorial uses must be cleared individually.

Ernie Janes / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) feeding in reed bed Norfolk, UK winter

Gerrit Vyn / Adult Clapper rail (Rallus longirostris) of the Gulf Coast subspecies, Cameron Parrish, Louisiana, USA, December

Gerrit Vyn / Adult Clapper rail (Rallus longirostris) of the Gulf Coast subspecies, Cameron Parrish, Louisiana, USA, December

Philip Stephen / Looking over the side at the wake of a fishing vessel on the North Sea. Property released.

Rick Tomlinson / Close up of guard rail and stanchion onboard SY "Adele"

Brent Stephenson / Aldabra flightless rail or white-throated rail (Dryolimnas cuvieri aldabranus) portrait. Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles.

Fabrice Cahez / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) foraging in shallow water. Vosges, France, August.

Markus Varesvuo / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) foraging at a hole in ice. Finland, January. Magic Moments book plate, page 140.

Markus Varesvuo / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) foraging through a hole in ice. Finland, January. Magic Moments book plate, page 141.

Rod Williams / Weka (Gallirallus australis scotti) Stewart Island race, Captive, occurs Stewart Island, New Zealand. Vulnerable.

Troels Jacobsen/Arcticphoto / Inaccessible Rail (Atlantisia rogersi) among grasses. This is the smallest flightless bird in the world. Inaccessible Island, Tristan da Cunha group, South Atlantic, March.

Troels Jacobsen/Arcticphoto / Inaccessible Rail (Atlantisia rogersi) among grasses. This is the smallest flightless bird in the world. Inaccessible Island, Tristan da Cunha group, South Atlantic, March.

Troels Jacobsen/Arcticphoto / Inaccessible Rail (Atlantisia rogersi) among grasses. This is the smallest flightless bird in the world. Inaccessible Island, Tristan da Cunha group, South Atlantic, March.

Brent Stephenson / Weka (Gallirallus australis) walking along a sandy beach. Ulva Island, Stewart Island, New Zealand.

Luiz Claudio Marigo / Gray-necked Wood-rail (Aramides cajanea) walking while holding something in its beak. The Pantanal wetlands of Mato Grosso State, Brazil, November.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander / Immature Dolphin gull (Leucophaeus scoresbii) walking along the wooden handrail of a cruise ship. Ushuaia, Argentina.

Nick Upton / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) walking on frozen water surface at edge of reed bed. Chew Valley lake, Somerset, UK, January

Colin Varndell / Adult Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) in winter, on frosty morning. Dorset, UK, December.

Mary McDonald / Gray-necked Wood Rail (Aramides cajanea) feeding off floating vegetaion, Pantanal NP, Brazil

Nick Garbutt / Grey-necked Woodrail (Aramides cajanea) on the edge of the Pixiam River, northern Pantanal, Brazil. September

Andrew Walmsley / Weka chick (Gallirallus australis) walking through grass, Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand, December

Andrew Walmsley / Weka (Gallirallus australis) walking through grass. Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand, December

Marie Read / Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola), wading in shallow water over submerged dead reeds in wetland, Mono Lake Basin, California, USA

Gerrit Vyn / Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) in wetland habitat, King County, Washington, USA, May.

Paul Hobson / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) wnter, walking on snow covered reedbed, Yorkshire, England, UK. February.

Paul Hobson / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) walking on snow covered reedbed, Yorkshire, England, UK. February.

David Woodfall / View from the working boat owned by Fred Larkham (Gloucestershire boatman) Severn Estuary, England, August 2009

David Woodfall / View from the working boat owned by Fred Larkham (Gloucestershire boatman) Severn Estuary, England, August 2009

Piper Mackay / Gray-necked Wood-rail (Aramides cajanea) looking intently into water, feeding, wetlands, Pantanal, Brazil.

Peter Lewis / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) on water, Titchfield Haven, Hampshire, England

Gerrit Vyn / Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris) of the richly-colored Gulf Coast subspecies R. l. saturatus. Anahuac National NWR, Texas, USA

Gerrit Vyn / Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris) of the richly-colored Gulf Coast subspecies R. l. saturatus. Anahuac National NWR, Texas, USA

Dave Bevan / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) in shallow water, Wales, UK

Michel Poinsignon / Water rail {Rallus aquaticus} Lorraine, France, winter

David Tipling / Grey necked Wood Rail {Aramides cajanea} Tikal, Guatemala

Andy Rouse / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) wading through water in pool, Wales, UK

Andy Rouse / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) on frosty ground beside water, Wales, UK

Andy Rouse / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) wading through water in pool, Wales, UK

Andy Rouse / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) reflected in water in pool, Wales, UK

Andy Rouse / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) at pool, Wales, UK, January

Michael Hutchinson / Giant wood rail (Aramides ypecaha) foraging on marshes, Esteros del Ibera, Argentina

Michael Hutchinson / Giant wood rail (Aramides ypecaha), Esteros del Ibera, Argentina

Michael Hutchinson / Giant wood rail (Aramides ypecaha) foraging on marshes, Esteros del Ibera, Argentina

Michael Hutchinson / Giant wood rail (Aramides ypecaha) foraging on marshes, Esteros del Ibera, Argentina

John Cancalosi / North island weka (Gallirallus australis greyi) New Zealand, IUCN vulnerable species

Tim Laman / Buff banded rail (Gallirallus philippensis) portrait, Queensland, Australia

Juan Carlos Munoz / Grey necked wood rail (Aramides cajanea) walking along river bank, Pantanal NP, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Juan Carlos Munoz / Grey necked wood rail (Aramides cajanea) walking along river bank, Pantanal NP, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Juan Carlos Munoz / Grey necked wood rail (Aramides cajanea) walking along river bank, Pantanal NP, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Juan Carlos Munoz / Grey necked wood rail (Aramides cajanea) walking along river bank, Pantanal NP, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Tim Laman / Clapper rail (Rallus longirostris levipes), Californian subspecies. Corte Madera Marsh, California.

Tim Laman / Clapper rail (Rallus longirostris levipes), Californian subspecies, swimming in the Corte Madera Marsh, California.

Peter Lewis / Water Rail {Rallus aquaticus} Titchfield Haven, Hampshire, UK

Peter Lewis / Water Rail {Rallus aquaticus} calling, Titchfield Haven, Hampshire, UK

Peter Lewis / Water rail {Rallus aquaticus} Titchfield Haven, Hampshire, UK

Peter Lewis / Water rail {Rallus aquaticus} Titchfield Haven, Hampshire, UK

Peter Lewis / Water Rail {Rallus aquaticus} amongst reeds, Titchfield Haven, Hampshire, UK

Dave Bevan / Water rail (Rallus aquaticus) wading through water, Wales, UK, December

Pete Oxford / Aldabra rail {Dryolimnas cuvieri aldabranus} Malabar Island, Aldabra, Seychelles

Pete Oxford / Aldabra rail {Dryolimnas cuvieri aldabranus} Malabar Island, Aldabra, Seychelles

Gary K. Smith / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) walking through cut reedbed, Norfolk, England, UK, December

Rod Williams / Weka (Stewart Island race) {Gallirallus australis scotti}, from New Zealand

Andy Sands / Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) Portrait, Hertfordshire, UK, February