Once abundant around San Francisco Bay, the California Clapper Rail is today endangered.
In the 19th Century, unregulated hunting plundered the species. In the 20th Century, rampant development reduced saltmarsh habitat by 85%. But in the 21st Century, the California Clapper Rail has allies!
Restoration is under way to increase healthy saltmarsh habitat for the scarce birds, particularly at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Also, efforts to reduce predation by non-native red foxes and feral cats are improving the chances for California Clapper Rails to survive.
