California Clapper Rails marsh survey

The San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex has developed a strategy to survey a sub-set of representative marshes for California clapper rails, which can then be extrapolated to a larger area to determine population size. Surveys will be performed in 2016 and 2017 on Refuge marshes and in other tidal marshes around San Francisco Bay. Working with Refuge staff and USFWS Region 8 Refuge Inventory and Monitoring staff, Point Blue will conduct analyses under the strategy to determine trends in density and population size at different spatial and temporal scales. Results from this project will assess progress towards meeting the population goals set forth in the Tidal Marsh Recovery Plan for clapper rail in San Francisco Bay. The objectives are to conduct range-wide California Ridgway���s Rail population assessments using the protocol being developed cooperatively by the Service and Point Blue; analyze and report on population status and trends; assess how management actions can increase Rail populations, assess progress toward achieving the Recovery Plan population goals for California Ridgway���s Rail.