The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service released 16 endangered Light-footed Clapper Rails into San Elijo Lagoon yesterday in the hopes that the new birds will diversify the gene pool of the dwindling population:

Over eight years, the program has released 220 birds to Southern California marshes, including the Sweetwater Marsh on San Diego Bay, the San Diego flood control channel near SeaWorld and the San Elijo Lagoon.