Many people know about endangered species found in Africa, Asia, and South America, but very few know that there are endangered species found in their local ecosystems. I had the opportunity to help survey the wild population of the light-footed clapper rail at the Tijuana Estuary. The light-footed clapper rail is an endangered bird found along the coast of Southern California and northern Baja California.

Kelly Hogan, an aviculturist from SeaWorld, Orlando, has worked for the past two years with penguins and puffins and has experience with observing puffin breeding behaviors, recording breeding pairs, checking nest sites and monitoring puffin parents caring for their chicks.