The osprey is in decline in one of its key territories and some scientists blame overfishing of menhaden, an important food for the birds.

Nicknamed the “ feathered mouse,” the eastern black rail is about six inches long, with white-flecked dark feathers, a brown nape and brilliant red eyes. Populations have declined by more than 75% over the last 10 to 20 years, according to a wildlife service news release announcing Endangered Species Act protection. The Center for Biological Diversity first proposed protections for the eastern black rail 10 years ago and sued the government last year over its inaction. The wildlife service said that doing so would make it easier for bird lovers to find eastern black rails and potentially trample their habitat. Historically, the eastern black rail is known to exist in 35 states east of the Rocky Mountains as well as Puerto Rico, Canada, Brazil, and several countries in the Caribbean and Central America, according to the FWS.