Great footage of Ridgway Rails from Team Clapper Rail, a partnership that has increased the population of rails through captive breeding and release activities. Habitat destruction and fragmentation of coastal wetlands resulted in the near demise of this secretive marsh bird. In the 1980s, populations of the this bird reached a critical low of fewer than 200 pairs between 23 sub-populations. 

In 1998, a partnership between SeaWorld San Diego, United States Fish & Wildlife Service, Chula Vista Nature Center, San Diego Zoo, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Richard Zembal (Principle Investigator), and several NGOs was created to increase the population and improve the genetic composition of Light-footed clapper rails through  captive breeding and release activities. Since 2001, more than 400 rails have been bred and released into the wild. Between release efforts, habitat improvements, and educational programs, the wild population has more than doubled.