ITIS Basic Information
Common Name: Light-footed Ridgway's Rail
Scientific Name: Rallus longirostris levipes
Species Code: RALOBS
Management Category: SO (significant occurrence at risk of loss)
Occurrence Map

Historically present
Currently present
Currently not detected
Table of Occurrences
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Species Information

MSP Species Background

Goals and Objectives

Goal: Protect, enhance, and restore light-footed Ridgway's rail occupied and historically occupied habitat to create resilient, self-sustaining populations that provide for persistence over the long-term (>100 years).

regional NFO 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 SO
MGT-IMP-CAPR RALOBS-1

Management units: 1, 7

From 2017 to 2021, continue the existing captive rearing and release efforts for Rideway's rail implememted by the wildlife agencies.

Action Statement Action status Projects
IMP-1 Implement management actions specified by the wildlife agencies for recovery of light-footed Ridgway's rail. in progress
Criteria Deadline year
Wildlife Agency specified management actions completed 2021
Threat Name Threat Code
Altered hydrologyALTHYD
Climate changeCLICHN
Human uses of the PreservesHUMUSE
Urban developmentURBDEV
local NFO 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 SO
MON-IMP-IMG RALOBS-2

Management units: 1, 7

From 2017 to 2021, annually inspect the existing occurrences of Ridgway's rail to identify necessary management actions in order to support the expansion of the occurrence to self sustaining levels.

Action Statement Action status Projects
IMP-1 Conduct regional IMG monitoring protocol survey locations and habitat, assess status, and quantify potential threats. available for implementation
IMP-2 Based upon threat evaluation, determine if routine management or more intensive management is warranted. available for implementation
IMP-3 Submit monitoring data and management recommendations to MSP web portal available for implementation
Criteria Deadline year
Surveys Completed Annually with management recommendations 2021
Threat Name Threat Code
Altered hydrologyALTHYD
Climate changeCLICHN
Human uses of the PreservesHUMUSE
Urban developmentURBDEV
local NFO 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 SO
MGT-IMP-IMG RALOBS-3

Management units: 1, 7

From 2017-2021, perform routine management activities such as protecting occurrences from disturbance through fencing, signage, and enforcement.

Action Statement Action status Projects
IMP-1 Perform management activities protecting occurrences from disturbance through fencing, signage, and enforcement. available for implementation
IMP-2 Submit project metadata and management data to MSP web portal. available for implementation
Criteria Deadline year
Management Completed as Needed Based Upon Monitoring Recommendations 2021
Threat Name Threat Code
Altered hydrologyALTHYD
Climate changeCLICHN
Human uses of the PreservesHUMUSE
Urban developmentURBDEV

Current Distribution Rangewide

Range in California extends from Ventura County-Mugu Lagoon-in the north to the the Mexican border in the south. Distribution within range is discontinuous because salt marsh habitats occur sporadically along the coastline [1].

Known Populations in San Diego County

Pairs detected in Buena Vista Lagoon, Agua Hedionda Lagoon, Batiquitos Lagoon, San Elijo lagoon, San Dieguito Lagoon, Los Penasquitos Lagoon, Kendall-Frost Reserve, San Diego River, Sweetwater marsh, E Street Marsh, J Street Marsh, South Bay Marine Reserve, and the majority are seen in Tijuana Marsh NWR [2].

List Status

FE, CE

Habitat Affinities

Inhabits coastal marshes, lagoons, and their maritime environments [3] in southern california and northern Baja California, Mexico. Requires shallow water and mudflats for foraging, with adjacent higher vegetation for cover during high water [4 cited from 1]. Nesting habitat includes tall, dense cordgrass and occasionally pickleweed in the low littoral zone, wrack deposits in the low marsh zone, and hummocks of high marsh within the low marsh zone [5].

Taxonomy and Genetics

This rail along with both of the other large rails of the western U.S. has been reclassified taxonomically and renamed by the American Ornithologist Union as the Ridgway’s Rail, Rallus obsoletus [6 cited from 2]. The Light-footed Clapper Rail has been renamed the Light-footed Ridgway's Rail [2].

Seasonal Activity

Activity peaks in early morning and late evening [7;8] when they forage in marsh vegetation in and along creeks and mudflat edges. Often roost at high tide during the day [8].

Life History/Reproduction

Nesting starts in mid-March and extends into August. End of breeding season is typically defined as the end of August, which corresponds with the time when eggs laid during renesting attempts have hatched and young are mobile. Clutch sizes range from 5 to 14 eggs. Both parents share in incubation and rearing [8]. Most egg laying takes places from early April to early May; Chicks will accompany adults on foraging trips by 2 days of age [9].

Diet and Foraging

Omnivorous and opportunistic; forages mostly on salt marsh invertebrates such as beetles, garden snails, California hornsnails, saltmarsh snails, fiddler and hermit crabs, crayfish, isopods, and decapods. Forage in all parts of the salt marsh, concentrating their efforts in the lower marsh when the tide is out, and moving into the higher marsh as the tide advances [9]. Gleans, pecks, probes, and scavenges from surface [4].

Dispersal

Year-round resident.

Threats

Primary threats include loss and degradation of habitat [2]. Other threats are modification of habitat from dredging actions, changes to tidal influences or siltation, and contaminants from urban runoff. Also threatened with small population size, isolation, automobile strikes, and possible habitat alteration from climate change [1].

Literature Sources

[1] US Fish and Wildlife Service. 2009. Light-footed Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris levipes) 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office, Carlsbad, California, USA.

[2] Zembal, R., S. F. Hoffman, and J. Konecny. 2016. Status and Distribution of the Light-footed Ridgway's (Clapper) Rail in California. California Department of Fish and Wildlife, South Coast Region, San Diego, California, USA.

[3] Zembal, R. 1994. The light-footed clapper rail (Rallus longirostris levipes). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Publication.

[4] Zeiner, D. C., W. F. Laudenslayer, K. E. Mayer, and M. White, eds. 1990. California’s Wildlife: Volume II - Birds. California Department of Fish and Game. Sacramento, California.

[5] Massey, B. W., R. Zembal, and P. D. Jorgensen. 1984. Nesting habitat of the light-footed clapper rail in southern California. Journal of Field Ornithology: 67-80.

[6] Chesser, R. T., R. C. Banks, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, A. W. Kratter, I. J. Lovette, A. G. Navarro-Sigüenza, P. C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen Jr., J. D. Rising, D. F. Stotz, and K. Winker. 2014. Fifty-fifth supplement to the American Ornithologists' Union check-list of North American birds. The Auk 131, no. 4: CSi-CSxv.

[7] Zembal R., B. W. Massey, and J. M. Fancher. 1989. Movements and activity patterns of the light-footed clapper rail. The Journal of wildlife management: 39-42.

[8] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2015. California Ridgway's Rail. Bay-Delta Fish and Wildlife Office, Sacramento, California, USA.

[9] Franzreb, K. 1985. Light-footed clapper rail recovery plan. US Fish and Wildlife Service.