The California Clapper Rail by Kyle Godfrey

The California Clapper Rail

Description of Organism:

The California Clapper, or recently renamed Ridgway’s Rail, is a small chicken sized bird that inhabits primarily

the saltwater marshes in the San Francisco Bay Area but also parts of the Southern Baja California.

The bird is characterized by its short rounded wings, large feet, and long toes. They tend to conceal

themselves in dense vegetation and work to build nests just about floodlines but close enough to the water

for more protection. With short legs and top heavy bodies akin to a hen, they tend not to take flight

unless under imminent danger from a predator.

Clapper Rail Diet

Clapper Rails are omnivorous and will eat anything from crabs and crustaceans to eggs and miscellaneous
plant matter. During the winter months they rely more on seeds and small plant varieties, while during summer
they take advantage of the increased crab populations. Clapper rails tend to hunt for food primarily with sight but
also with smell, and like to swallow their prey whole.

Clapper Rail Habitat:

Clapper Rails inhabit saltwater marshes and tend to nest in the dense vegetation around the coastal border. They prefer being near plant varitations such as pickleweed and mangroves due their ability to provide ample cover.

Geographic and Population Changes:

Clapper Rails depend on saltwater marshes for their livelihood, and saw a massive crash
in their population in their geographic range from most of the Northern and Central California coast to
almost exclusively the San Francisco Bay. Their population numbers got as low as 500 birds in 1991,
but has since rebounded to an estimation of 1,500 recorded in 2008. The Clapper is once again under
threat as habitat destruction of the Bay Area’s brackish waters continues. With rising sea levels and
urban development surrounding the Bay, Clapper Rails are quickly finding their available habitat area
shrinking. They have been labeled an Endangered species and their plan for recovery was finalized
on on 02/26/14.

Cause of Listing and Main Threats to Existence:

As previously mentioned, Clapper rails habitat is under and has been constant attack dating all the way
back to the Gold Rush. The Gold Rush and the ensuing urbanization of the marshes surrounding the
Bay Area have increased the frequency of floods and the amplitude of high tides making it more
difficult for Clapper Rails to find suitable space to create their nesting spots. The Clapper Rail’s nest
depends on a very precise balance of having enough dense enough vegetation and being high enough
off the ground to avoid floods. If floods become more erratic and severe, they struggle to incubate
and raise young. This habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation caused by urbanization is further
exacerbated by the increased pressure on the habitat caused by recreation from humans and dogs.

Description of Recovery Plan:

The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service plans on recovering populations of Ridgway Rail’s and other species
in their finalized plan “Recovery Plan for Tidal Marsh Ecosystems of Northern and Central California”.
The plan details roping off specific sites around the coast of the bay restricted for any form of
development or recreation to allow the ecosystems within those areas and their species to recover
and maintain healthy levels of populations. The plan also outlines their objectives for extensive surveys
and monitoring of the Clapper Rails and other species to indicate which parts of the coastal Bay Area
are in greatest need of environmental protection.

Estimated Date for Recovery: 2063
Estimated Cost of Recovery: 841,410,700

What Can You Do?

There are a number of organizations, such as “Save the Bay” and “California State Coastal Conservancy”,
that take donations and volunteers to help them with their endeavors to preserve California’s coastal
ecosystems. As we know from trophic cascades and the interconnected nature of ecosystems,
helping one aspect of the environment will end up in positive consequences in other aspects.
Another simple way of helping is to refrain from wandering into restricted habitat and simply respect
the signs and warnings conservationists put up near these environments.

Some practical things we can all do now:
- Recycle more often
- Volunteer for beach clean ups
- Refrain from littering or dumping
- Dispose of hazardly waster properly

Other Resources:

http://sfbaywildlife.info/

https://www.savesfbay.org/volunteer

Citations:

“Ridgway's Rail Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” , All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ridgways_Rail/lifehistory.

Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife. “Recovery Plans Search.” Official Web Page of the U S Fish and Wildlife Service, www.fws.gov/endangered/species/recovery-plans.html.

“Wildlife of the San Francisco Bay Area.” Wildlife of the San Francisco Bay Area, sfbaywildlife.info/.

S Sibley, David. “Ridgway's Rail Life History.” Audobon Field Guide for Plants and Animals, www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/ridgways-rail.