When we left the USS
Sway (AM-120) in our last installment, she had just departed Algeria en route to the United States. The
Sway had been in the European/North African theater of operations since 1943. She had participated in operations Shingle and Dragoon, had come under fire in Italy and Southern France, and been involved in a friendly-fire incident with General Mark Clark. Now she was en route to the United States for a major overhaul and refit before reporting to the Pacific Fleet for operations against Japan. My grandfather had joined the ship in May 1944, and as of 1 January 1945 he had risen to the rank of quartermaster third class. (All entries are from the ship s war journal unless otherwise noted.)
Marsh-dwelling black rails are more often heard than seen, and they arenât heard very often. William & Maryâs Center for Conservation Biology led a decades-long effort that culminated in the eastern black railâs listing as âthreatenedâ on the Endangered Species List. (WYDaily/ David Seibel courtesy of William & Mary)
A bird that since John James Audubonâs time has scurried under the radar of all but the most attentive ornithologists, conservationists and naturalists has received protection from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The bird isÂ
Laterallus jamaicensis, the eastern black rail. William & Maryâs Center for Conservation Biology led a 20-year effort to rally regulators and the birding community to get behind the bird, an effort that paid off in early November when Fish and Wildlife placed the black rail on the list of threatened animals under the Endangered Species Act.
Populations of the threatened black rail may rebound—but don't expect to see one phys.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from phys.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Elusive bird: Marsh-dwelling black rails are more often heard than seen, and they aren’t heard very often. William & Mary’s Center for Conservation Biology led a decades-long effort that culminated in the eastern black rail’s listing as “threatened” on the Endangered Species List. Photo by David Seibel
Photo - of - by Joseph McClain | December 15, 2020
A bird that since John James Audubon’s time has scurried under the radar of all but the most attentive ornithologists, conservationists and naturalists has received protection from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The bird is
Laterallus jamaicensis, the eastern black rail. William & Mary’s Center for Conservation Biology led a 20-year effort to rally regulators and the birding community to get behind the bird, an effort that paid off in early November when Fish and Wildlife placed the bl