"Environmental groups are suing the Trump administration, accusing it of failing to protect a mysterious marsh bird that has recently been found to have a small and fragile population on the Louisiana coast.

A lawsuit filed in federal court in New Orleans on Thursday by the Center for Biological Diversity and the New Orleans group Healthy Gulf says the eastern black rail should be protected under the Endangered Species Act.

“These charmingly odd, elusive birds are being shoved toward extinction because the Trump administration can’t be bothered to protect them,” Stephanie Kurose, an attorney at the center, said in a statement. “If we want to prevent eastern black rails from becoming the latest victim of the extinction crisis, we have to quickly get them the legal protections they desperately need.”"

Tristan Baurick reports for the New Orleans Times-Picayune March 19, 2020. [2]