ENVIRONMENT: LIGHT-FOOTED CLAPPER RAIL : Estimated Number of Pairs

The light--footed clapper rail, slightly smaller than a chicken, is a secretive bird found in a few salt marshes along the coast of Southern California and Mexico. On the federal endangered species list, it builds a remarkable nest that floats during high tide.

Light--footed clapper rails are slow--moving creatures that are believed to spend their entire lives in one area. More than half the population of light--footed clapper rails is concentrated in the Upper Newport Bay area, and there have been efforts to restore populations at Anaheim Bay and other areas.

Location 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 Anaheim Bay 30 19 28 20 24 11 5 7 Bolsa Chica 0 0 0 0 NC NC NC 0 Huntington Beach Strand NC 0 NC NC NC NC 0 0 Upper Newport Bay 98 66 103 112 112 87 99 119 San Joaquin Reserve NC NC 5 4 1 2 1 0 San Joaquin NC NC 5 4 2 0 0 1 Carlson Road Marsh County Totals 128 85 141 140 139 100 105 127 State Totals 203 173 221 249 277 142 143 178

NC--no census was taken

Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service