Youth : News for the 18-and-under crowd : Scout Pins Hopes for Eagle Status on Bird

Huntington Beach Boy Scout Dan Goldberg, 15, has always been fascinated by the Bolsa Chica wetlands.

To become an Eagle Scout, the highest rank in Scouting, he decided to aid an endangered bird: the light-footed clapper rail. The clapper rail is found in Southern California salt marshes and lives in dense cordgrass, a protective habitat and nesting material.

Goldberg, an Edison High School freshman, built 10 nesting platforms for the rare birds, five of which were placed last weekend in Inner Bolsa Bay.

As a result of the platform project, the birds will have more nesting sites with the hope of increasing the population of clapper rails, Goldberg said.

Goldberg, a member of Troop 319 who started the project last June, said he solicited material donations from Barr Lumber and Home Depot.

“Now, I’m not so shy about calling people for donations,” he said, adding that he also enlisted the help of about 35 other Scouts from his troop.

Goldberg hopes to receive the Eagle rank this summer.