Michael Mace, Wild Animal Park curator of birds (far left), watches one of seven light-footed Ridgway's rails being released into the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve. The endangered marsh birds were hatched at the Wild Animal Park's Bird Breeding Center and at the Living Coast Discovery Center. The successful program continues, and more than 400 light-footed clapper rails have been released, as a result of a joint breeding and reintroduction program by Team Clapper Rail, a unique partnership between three breeding centers: Wild Animal Park (now San Diego Zoo Safari Park), Living Coast Discovery Center, and SeaWorld San Diego, along with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Navy, Unified Port of San Diego, California Department of Fish and Game, and Huntington Beach Wetland Conservancy.

2009

End Extinction 2007 - 2016

At San Elijo Lagoon near Encinitas, California, members of the Ridgway’s Rail Recovery Team, including Wild Animal Park curator of birds Michael Mace (far left), lined up carriers containing the light-footed Ridgway’s rails ready for release. At the count of three, they tilted the boxes forward and opened the tabs, releasing the birds. Each one flew in a different direction until it found a spot that looked safe enough to land. Once on the ground, the birds headed into the vegetation and vanished into the marsh. The team couldn’t help but applaud.