holcocera gigantella is a moth in the blastobasidae family .

it is found in the united states , including colorado , arizona and california .

the wingspan is about 22 mm .

the larvae feed on the seeds and pods of yucca species .

holcocera gigantella

holcocera gigantella <EOT> have a fact about holcocera gigantella ? write it here to share it with the entire community .

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blastobasis gigantella chambers , 1876 ; can . ent . 8 ( 11 ) : 219 ; tl : rd to monument park , ~ 3 miles n of colorado springs

holcocera gigantella ; dietz , 1910 , trans . am . ent . soc . 36 : 29 ; [ nacl ] , # 1185 ; [ nhm card ] ; [ sangmi lee & richard brown ] ; adamski & hodges , 1996 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 98 : 714

holcocera orthophrontis meyrick , 1932 ; exotic microlep . 4 ( 10 ) : 317

holcocera percnoscia meyrick , 1932 ; exotic microlep . 4 ( 10 ) : 317

holcocera chloropeda meyrick , 1922 ; exotic microlep . 2 ( 17 ) : 541 ; tl : brazil , para

holcocera subolivacea ; adamski , 1999 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 101 ( 1 ) : 172

holcocera adjutrix meyrick , 1918 ; exotic microlep . 2 ( 6 ) : 161 ; tl : british guiana , bartica

holcocera pugionaria meyrick , 1918 ; exotic microlep . 2 ( 6 ) : 161 ; tl : british guiana , bartica

holcocera eusaris meyrick , 1922 ; exotic microlep . 2 ( 17 ) : 542 ; tl : peru , lima , 500ft

holcocera limicola meyrick , 1922 ; exotic microlep . 2 ( 6 ) : 162 ; tl : ecuador , huigra , 4500ft

holcocera sympasta meyrick , 1918 ; exotic microlep . 2 ( 6 ) : 162 ; tl : peru , chosica , 2800ft

holcocera cylindrota meyrick , 1918 ; exotic microlep . 2 ( 6 ) : 162 ; tl : colombia , la crumbre , 6600ft

= holcocera chalcofrontella ; [ nhm card ] ; adamski & hodges , 1996 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 98 : 712

= holcocera chalcofrontella ; [ nhm card ] ; adamski & hodges , 1996 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 98 : 713

holcocera increta meyrick , 1930 ; ann . soc . ent . fr . 99 ( suppl ) : 729 ; tl : hoang su phi

holcocera macrotoma meyrick , 1916 ; exot . microlep . 1 ( 19 ) : 599 ; tl : s . india , nilgiris , 7000ft

holcocera basiplagata walsingham , 1912 ; biol . centr . - amer . lep . heterocera 4 : 151 ; tl : guatemala , panajachel , 5000ft

holcocera digesta meyrick , 1922 ; exotic microlep . 2 ( 17 ) : 542 ; tl : brazil , para , obidos , r . trombetas

holcocera sakura ohshima , 2003 ; ent . science 6 ( 3 ) : 210 ; tl : honshu , tatsuno - to , nagano - ken

holcocera anomalella ; adamski & hodges , 1996 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 98 : 712 ; [ sangmi lee & richard brown ]

holcocera concolor adamski & maier , 2003 ; proc . ent . soc . wash . 105 ( 1 ) : 145 ; tl : barnstable , massachusetts

holcocera gargantuella ; adamski & hodges , 1996 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 98 : 714 ; [ sangmi lee & richard brown ]

holcocera guilandinae ; [ sangmi lee & richard brown ] ; adamski & hodges , 1996 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 98 : 715

holcocera immaculella ; [ sangmi lee & richard brown ] ; adamski & hodges , 1996 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 98 : 716

holcocera extensa ; adamski , copeland , miller , hebert , darrow & luke , 2010 , smithsonian contr . zool . 630 : 7 ; [ afromoths ]

holcocera hemiteles walsingham , 1912 ; biol . centr . - amer . lep . heterocera 4 : 152 ; tl : guatemala , totonicapam , 8500 - 10500ft

holcocera irroratella ; adamski , copeland , miller , hebert , darrow & luke , 2010 , smithsonian contr . zool . 630 : 7 ; [ afromoths ]

holcocera lignyodes ; adamski , copeland , miller , hebert , darrow & luke , 2010 , smithsonian contr . zool . 630 : 6 ; [ afromoths ]

holcocera paradoxa powell , 1976 ; j . lep . soc . 30 ( 3 ) : 224 ; tl : arizona , madera canyon , santa rita mtns

holcocera panurgella heinrich , 1920 ; proc . u . s . nat . mus . 57 ( 2305 ) : 71 ; tl : santa catalina mtns , arizona

holcocera coccivorella ; [ nhm card ] ; adamski & hodges , 1996 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 98 : 714 ; [ sangmi lee & richard brown ]

holcocera nephalia ; walsingham , 1912 , biol . centr . - amer . lep . heterocera 4 : 151 ; [ nhm card ] ; [ sangmi lee & richard brown ]

holcocera villella ; [ nhm card ] ; [ sangmi lee & richard brown ] ; adamski & hodges , 1996 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 98 : 716

holcocera titanica walsingham , 1912 ; biol . centr . - amer . lep . heterocera 4 : 151 , pl . 5 , f . 18 ; tl : mexico , oaxaca , salina cruz

holcocera homochromatica walsingham , 1912 ; biol . centr . - amer . lep . heterocera 4 : 152 , pl . 5 , f . 19 ; tl : mexico , guerrero , amula , 6000ft

holcocera paradoxa ; [ nacl ] , # 1206 ; [ nhm card ] ; [ sangmi lee & richard brown ] ; adamski & hodges , 1996 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 98 : 716

holcocera ( holcocerini ) ; adamski & hodges , 1996 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 98 : 712 ; adamski , copeland , miller , hebert , darrow & luke , 2010 , smithsonian contr . zool . 630 : 6

holcocera gozmanyi adamski & landry , 2007 ; acta zool . acad . sci . hung . 53 ( suppl . 1 ) : 14 ; tl : galápagos , fernandina , cabo douglas , s 00°18 . 269 ' , w 091°39 . 098 '

holcocera crassicornella ; brown , adamski , hodges & bahr , 2004 , zootaxa 510 : 40 ; [ nacl ] , # 1178 ; [ nhm card ] ; [ sangmi lee & richard brown ] ; adamski & hodges , 1996 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 98 : 714

holcocera panurgella ; brown , adamski , hodges & bahr , 2004 , zootaxa 510 : 105 ; [ nacl ] , # 1205 ; [ nhm card ] ; [ sangmi lee & richard brown ] ; adamski & hodges , 1996 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 98 : 716

holcocera iceryaeella ; dietz , 1910 , trans . am . ent . soc . 36 : 41 , pl . 3 , f . 21 ; [ nacl ] , # 1187 ; [ nhm card ] ; [ sangmi lee & richard brown ] ; adamski & hodges , 1996 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 98 : 715

holcocera chalcofrontella ; dietz , 1910 , trans . am . ent . soc . 36 : 33 , pl . 2 , f . 17 , 17a - d ; mcdunnough , 1961 , amer . mus . novit . 2045 : 12 ; [ nacl ] , # 1175 ; [ nhm card ] ; [ sangmi lee & richard brown ] ; adamski & hodges , 1996 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 98 : 712

photographs are the copyrighted property of each photographer listed . contact individual photographers for permission to use for any purpose .

powell , j . a . & p . a . opler , moths of western north america , pl . 4 . 22m ; p . 61 . book review and ordering

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= ; dietz , 1910 , trans . am . ent . soc . 36 : 23 ; [ nacl ] , 15 ; [ nhm card ] ; [ richard brown ] ; adamski & hodges , 1996 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 98 : 712

= hypatopa ; adamski & hodges , 1996 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 98 : 721

= ; [ richard brown , [ implied ] ] ; adamski & hodges , 1996 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 98 : 712

= ; adamski , copeland , miller , hebert , darrow & luke , 2010 , smithsonian contr . zool . 630 : 6 ; [ afromoths ]

eubolepia anomalella dietz , 1910 ; trans . am . ent . soc . 36 : 68 , pl . 4 , f . 40 , 40a ; tl : arizona , pinal mt .

blastobasis ( hypat . ? ) aphanes zeller , 1877 ; horae soc . ent . ross . 13 : 439 , pl . 6 , f . 154

atlantic states , texas , missouri , virginia , maryland , manitoba . see [ maps ]

= ; adamski & hodges , 1996 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 98 : 712

= ; adamski & hodges , 1996 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 98 : 713

blastobasis coccivorella chambers , 1880 ; rep . ent . u . s . dep . agric . 1879 : 207 ; tl : cedar key , florida

nova scotia , quebec , ontario , saskatchewan , british columbia , maine , massachusetts . see [ maps ]

larva on larix sp . , picea abies , p . glauca , pinus resinosa , p . rigida , p . strobus adamski & maier , 2003 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 105 ( 1 ) : 148

blastobasis ( hypat . ) controversella zeller , 1877 ; horae soc . ent . ross . 13 : 436

= ; adamski & hodges , 1996 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 98 : 714

blastobasis extensa meyrick , 1918 ; ann . transv . mus . 6 ( 2 ) : 55 ; tl : transvaal , pretoria

eubolepia gargantuella heinrich , 1920 ; proc . u . s . nat . mus . 57 ( 2305 ) : 69 , pl . 6 , f . 34 ; tl : brush corral , arizona

blastobasis guilandinae busck , 1900 ; proc . u . s . nat . mus . 23 ( 1208 ) : 234 , pl . 1 , f . 9 ; tl : palm beach , florida

larva on quilandina handucella dietz , 1910 , trans . am . ent . soc . 36 : 6

= ; adamski & hodges , 1996 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 98 : 715

blastobasis irroratella walsingham , 1891 ; trans . ent . soc . lond . 1891 ( 1 ) : 122 ; tl : bathurst , gambia

syndroma lignyodes meyrick , 1914 ; exot . microlep . 1 ( 9 ) : 271 ; tl : mt mlanje , nyasaland

prosodica nephalia walsingham , 1907 ; proc . u . s . nat . mus . 33 ( 1567 ) : 200 [ nom . nud . ? ]

blastobasis ( hypat . ) proagorella zeller , 1877 ; horae soc . ent . ross . 13 : 431 , pl . 6 , f . 151

blastobasis ( hypat . ) suppletella zeller , 1877 ; horae soc . ent . ross . 13 : 437 , pl . 6 , f . 153

= ; adamski & hodges , 1996 , proc . ent . soc . wash . 98 : 716

larva on xelisma ( andromeda ) ligustrina busck , [ 1901 ] , j . n . y . ent . soc . 8 : 239

[ afromoths ] de prins , j . & de prins , w . , 2013

sangmi lee , richard brown & sibyl bucheli . gelechioidea - a global framework ;

[ maps ] warning ! the maps are automatically generated from the textual information , and the process does not always produce acceptable result ; see about maps for more info .

zeller , 1877 exotische microlepidopteren horae soc . ent . ross . 13 : 3 - 493 , pl . 1 - 6

if you have corrections , comments or information to add into these pages , just send mail to markku savela keep in mind that the taxonomic information is copied from various sources , and may include many inaccuracies . expert help is welcome .


metarctia fusca is a moth of the family arctiidae .

it was described by hampson in 1901 .

it is found in kenya , south sudan and uganda .

metarctia fusca

metarctia fusca <EOT> have a fact about metarctia burra ? write it here to share it with the entire community .

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have a fact about metarctia epimela ? write it here to share it with the entire community .

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html public " - / / w3c / / dtd xhtml 1 . 0 transitional / / en " " urltoken "

[ democratic republic of congo , equateur , mongala district ] , bumba , 23 . x . 1905 , leg . j . waelbroeck .

a junior subjective synonym of balacra elegans aurivillius , 1892 ; synonymized by przybylowicz ( 2009 : 13 ) .

strand e . 1918a . ueber einige lepidopteren der familien lycaenidae , hesperiidae , syntomididae [ sic ] und sphingidae aus belgisch kongo . - internationale entomologische zeitschrift , guben 12 ( 1 ) : 1–9 , ( 10 ) : 102–103 , ( 15 ) : 114–115 .

this article is issued from wikipedia - version of the 5 / 5 / 2016 . the text is available under the creative commons attribution / share alike but additional terms may apply for the media files .

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the marbled murrelet ( brachyramphus marmoratus ) is a small seabird from the north pacific .

it is a member of the auk family .

it nests in old-growth forests or on the ground at higher latitudes where trees can not grow .

its habit of nesting in trees was suspected but not documented until a tree-climber found a chick in 1974 , making it one of the last north american bird species to have its nest described .

the marbled murrelet has declined in number since humans began logging its nest trees in the latter half of the 19th century .

the decline of the marbled murrelet and its association with old-growth forests , at least in the southern part of its range , have made it a flagship species in the forest preservation movement .

in canada ( north of 50 ° north latitude ) and alaska , the declines are not so obvious because populations are much larger and the survey techniques have not had sufficient power to detect changes .

marbled murrelet

marbled murrelet <EOT> an adult marbled murrelet , a rare type of bird , floating in water .

marbled murrelet - kenai fjords national park ( u . s . national park service )

revised critical habitat for the marbled murrelet - proposed rule ; reopening of public comment period .

a marbled murrelet nesting in a douglas fir , big basin redwoods state park , california .

marbled murrelet nest predation risk in managed forest landscapes : dynamic fragmentation effects at multiple scales .

the marbled murrelet is classified as endangered ( en ) by the iucn red list ( 1 ) .

marbled murrelet foraging ecology : spatial and temporal characteristics of habitat use in clayoquot sound , british columbia .

in the first marbled murrelet post , we introduced some defining characteristics of the species and briefly explained why , as forest owners or land managers , it’s important to pay close attention to the marbled murrelet .

marbled murrelet nest predation risk in managed forest landscapes : dynamic fragmentation effects at multiple scales . - pubmed - ncbi

the marbled murrelet can be confused with the kittlitz ' s murrelet , but the distinction between the two is evident as the bird takes flight : watch the tail retrices during takeoff , the marbled murrelet ' s retrices will change quickly from white to brown , while those of the kittlitz ' s remain white . the marbled murrelet is less than 10 inches long and weighs just seven to nine ounces .

the oldest known marbled murrelet was at least 10 years old when it was recaptured and rereleased during banding operations in british columbia .

kuletz kj , piatt jf . juvenile marbled murrelet nurseries and the productivity index . wilson bulletin . 1999 ; 111 : 257–261 .

an adult marbled murrelet spends its life at sea , flying ashore once a year to nest in old - growth redwood trees .

the speckled , blue - green marbled murrelet eggs are pointed on one end so they don ' t roll off the nest .

northwest forest plan—the first 10 years ( 1994 - 2003 ) : status and trends of populations and nesting habitat for the marbled murrelet .

t he amount of suitable habitat has continued to decline throughout the range of the marbled murrelet , primarily due to commercial timber harvest . the precise amount of suitable murrelet habitat within the listed range is unknown .

kuzyakin , a . p . 1963 . on the biology of the marbled murrelet . ornitologiya no . 6 : 315 - 320 . close

raphael mg . conservation of the marbled murrelet under the northwest forest plan . conservation biology . 2006 ; 20 : 297–305 . pmid : 16903091

designation of critical habitat for the marbled murrelet ( brachyramphus marmoratus ) proposed rule ; finding that the revision of critical habitat should not be made .

strong cs . decline of the marbled murrelet population on the central oregon coast during the 1990s . northwestern naturalist . 2003 ; 84 : 31–37 .

embed this arkive thumbnail link ( " portlet " ) by copying and pasting the code below . < a href = " urltoken " title = " arkive species - marbled murrelet ( brachyramphus marmoratus ) " > < img src = " urltoken " alt = " arkive species - marbled murrelet ( brachyramphus marmoratus ) " title = " arkive species - marbled murrelet ( brachyramphus marmoratus ) " border = " 0 " / > < / a >

alaska and british columbia : status review of the marbled murrelet ( brachyramphus marmoratus ) in alaska and british columbia . usgs 2006 . abstract ; download report

miller sl , meyer cb , ralph cj . land and seascape patterns associated with marbled murrelet abundance offshore . waterbirds . 2002 ; 25 : 100–108 .

this second post includes information to help you identify nests , as well as better understand the habitat requirements of the marbled murrelet ( brachyramphus marmoratus ) .

a murrelet sits on its nest in the crook of a large tree branch .

the marbled murrelet was once known as the " australian bumble bee " by fishermen and as the " fogbird " or " fog lark " by loggers .

a psychological warfare program centered on vomit could help save the marbled murrelet , an endangered seabird that nests in california ' s old - growth redwood forests .

5 - year status review : u . s . fish and wildlife service . 2009 . final 2009 5 - year status review for the marbled murrelet . report

singer , s . w . et al 1990 . discovery an observation of two tree nests of the marbled murrelet . the condor . the cooper ornithological society .

listing status : u . s . fish and wildlife service . 1992 . final rule listing the marbled murrelet as threatened . federal register 57 : 45328 - 45337 .

10 - year report : northwest forest plan—the first 10 years ( 1994 - 2003 ) : status and trends of populations and nesting habitat for the marbled murrelet . report

burkett ee . marbled murrelet food habits and prey ecology . in : ralph cj , hunt gl , raphael mg , piatt jf , editors . ecology and conservation of the marbled murrelet . general technical report . psw - gtr - 152 . u . s . department of agriculture , forest service . pp . 223–246 . 1995 .

carter ha . at - sea biology of the marbled murrelet ( brachyramphus marmoratus ) in barkley sound , british columbia . ms thesis . university of manitoba . 1984 .

marbled murrelets use their wings for swimming underwater , reaching depths of 90 feet .

critical habitat : u . s . fish and wildlife service . 1996 . final designation of critical habitat for the marbled murrelet . federal register 61 : 26256 - 26320 .

carter , h . r . , morrison , m . l . 1992 . status and conservation of the marbled murrelet in north america . western foundation of vertebrate zoology .

designation of critical habitat for the marbled murrelet ( brachyramphus marmoratus ) : proposed rule ; reopening of comment period , notice of availability of draft economic analysis , and amended required determinations .

the marbled murrelet is a small native seabird along the pacific northwest coast from northern california to central alaska , with a slender black bill and plumage that varies in color by season .

arbib , jr . , r . s . 1972a . the nesting of the marbled murrelet from recent russian literature . am . birds no . 26 : 824 - 826 . close

pgs 212 - 220 carter , h . r . , and s . g . sealy . marbled murrelet mortality due to gill - net fishing in barkley sound , british columbia .

the fael is accepting applications for a ph . d . assistantship focused on the breeding ecology of the marbled murrelet . the student filling this positon will be involved with field research aimed at improving our understanding of marbled murrelet nesting ecology and breeding habitat requirements , with implications for the conservation of this species in oregon and beyond . see the opportunities page for details .

a marbled murrelet chick makes its first flight straight to the ocean , a trip as far as 50 miles ( 80 kilometers ) . no test flights for these birds , biologists say .

unlike most other seabirds , marbled murrelets are solitary ; they do not form dense colonies .

the marbled murrelet is considered endanged in california , and threatened in oregon , washington , and british columbia . its low reproductive rate prevents fast recovery from population decreases . the marbled murrelet is one of the few species of alcids whose known and suspected nesting habitat is not protected by federal refuge designation . several lawsuits have been filed to defer the logging of old - growth forests where murrelets are known or suspected to live . in order to save the habitat of the marbled murrelet there need to be larger forest reserves and / or substantial changes in the logging practices .

s1 table . data on marbled murrelet use of marine habitats in northwestern washington , u . s . a . , and southwestern british columbia , canada , 2004–2008 , compared to available habitats .

the murrelet’s use their torpedo - shaped body and flipper - like wings to catch their prey underwater .

economic analysis : u . s . fish and wildlife service . 2007 . draft economic analysis of critical habitat designation for the marbled murrelet . report . ; federal register 72 : 35025 - 35028 .

barrett j . the influence of oceanographic and terrestrial attributes on marbled murrelet ( brachyramphus marmoratus ) marine habitat selection during the breeding season . m . sc . thesis , simon fraser university . 2008 .

typically , marbled murrelets select trees with large diameter branches covered in moss or lichen for nesting .

becker bh , beissinger sr . scale - dependent habitat selection by a nearshore seabird , the marbled murrelet , in a highly dynamic upwelling system . marine ecology progress series . 2003 ; 256 : 243–255 .

the marbled murrelet , like most seabirds , spends the majority of its life on the ocean and comes on land only to breed . marbled murrelets nest in solitary pairs at very low densities , typically within 30 km of the ocean , but nests have been located up to 50 km or more inland .

ralph cj , hunt gl , raphael mg , piatt jf . ecology and conservation of the marbled murrelet in north america : an overview . in : ralph cj , hunt gl , raphael mg , piatt jf , editors . ecology and conservation of the marbled murrelet . general technical report . psw - gtr - 152 . u . s . department of agriculture , forest service . pp . 3–22 . 1995 .

recovery plan : u . s . fish and wildlife service . 1997 . recovery plan for the threatened marbled murrelet ( brachyramphus marmoratus ) in washington , oregon and california . portland , oregon . 203 pp .

usfws ( u . s . fish and wildlife service ) . recovery plan for the threatened marbled murrelet ( brachyramphus marmoratus ) in washington , oregon , and california . usfws , portland , oregon . 1997 .

bellefleur d , lee p , ronconi ra . the impact of recreational boat traffic on marbled murrelets (

peery mz , beissinger sr , newman sh , burkett eb , williams td . applying the declining population paradigm : diagnosing causes of poor reproduction in the marbled murrelet . conservation biology . 2004 ; 18 : 1088–1098 .

kuletz kj . foraging behavior and productivity of a non - colonial seabird , the marbled murrelet ( brachyramphus marmoratus ) , relative to prey and habitat . p . d . dissertation , university of victoria . 2005 .

meyer cb , miller sl , ralph cj . multi - scale landscape and seascape patterns associated with marbled murrelet nesting areas on the u . s . west coast . landscape ecology . 2002 ; 17 : 95–115 .

humans are a key link in helping keep steller ' s jays from eating marbled murrelet eggs . the parks have a " crumb clean " program to reduce food available to jays , and lower the bird population .

masters of disguise , the first marbled murrelet nest wasn ' t discovered by scientists until 1974 , in big basin redwoods state park . the seabird doesn ' t actually build a nest , instead choosing a flat branch covered in cozy moss and needles , with cover to hide from airborne predators . at dawn and dusk , parents switch roles , flying offshore to dive for fish and invertebrates . [ watch the mysterious marbled murrelet ]

a steller ' s jay inspects a fake egg meant to mimic the egg of a murrelet , another type of bird . the egg contains a vomit - inducing ingredient meant to discourage the jays from eating real murrelet eggs .

the marbled murrelet feeds on fish such as sandlace and herring but feeds on invertebrates during winter ( 2 ) . they forage singly , in pairs or in feeding flocks of a mix of different species ( 3 ) .

miller sl , raphael mg , falxa ga , strong c , baldwin j , bloxton t , et al . recent population decline of the marbled murrelet in the pacific northwest . condor . 2012 ; 114 : 771–781 .

becker bh , peery mz , beissinger sr . ocean climate and prey availability affect the trophic level and reproductive success of the marbled murrelet , an endangered seabird . marine ecology progress series . 2007 ; 329 : 267–279 .

study area used to examine resource selection by marbled murrelets in northwestern washington and southwestern british columbia , 2004–2008 .

description of parameters considered for examining marine habitat selection by marbled murrelets in northwestern washington , usa , 2004–2008 .

burger ae , hitchcock cl , stewart ea , davoren gk . coexistence and spatial distributions of marbled murrelets (

hebert pn , golightly rt . at - sea distribution and movements of nesting and non - nesting marbled murrelets

listing : in 1992 , the washington , oregon , and california population of the marbled murrelet was federally listed as threatened . currently , the u . s . fish and wildlife service is proposing to revise its 1996 designation of critical habitat . in october 2008 , a 90 - day finding was made on a petition to delist the marbled murrelet and the usfws initiated a 12 - month status review of the species . the 12 - month finding concluded , in january 2010 , that the murrelet needs continued protection and will retain its status as a threatened species .

peery mz , newman sh , storlazzi cd , beissinger sr . meeting reproductive demands in a dynamic upwelling system : foraging strategies of a pursuit - diving seabird , the marbled murrelet . condor . 2009 ; 111 : 120–134 .

the bnr alternative does not preserve enough older forest habitat for the rapidly and steadily declining murrelet population . the bnr alternative fails to incorporate the best available science for recovery of marbled murrelets that nest in older forests across western washington . read more .

the marbled murrelet is unique among members of the alcid family in its nesting habits . this small seabird nests in trees in coastal , older forests throughout most of its range in north america and asia . first described by gmelin in 1789 ( as

binford , l . c . , b . g . elliott and s . w . singer . 1975 . discovery of a nest and the downy young of the marbled murrelet . wilson bull . no . 87 : 303 - 319 . close

a rare bird called the marbled murrelet lives at sea but nests on tall , thick redwood branches . attacks by steller ' s jays , another type of bird , on murrelet eggs and chicks are one of the small bird ' s greatest modern threats . biologists hope to train wild jays to avoid murrelets by setting out dummy eggs laced with a vomit - inducing chemical .

some jays wouldn ' t even touch the eggs — evidence that murrelet egg - nabbing is a learned behavior , golightly said .

a chunky pacific seabird , the marbled murrelet is unique among alcids ( puffin relatives ) in nesting high up in large trees in coastal forests . little - known until the past few decades , it now is thought to be seriously threatened by logging .

learn more about marbled murrelets and threats facing them in this video from the u . s . fish and wildlife service !

nelson , s . kim . 1997 . marbled murrelet ( brachyramphus marmoratus ) , version 2 . 0 . in the birds of north america ( p . g . rodewald , editor ) . cornell lab of ornithology , ithaca , new york , usa .

the marbled murrelet is found along a north pacific arc from kamchatka , russia through the aleutian islands to central california . in the summer , it occurs in protected bays and coves near old - growth forests . in the winter , it is found offshore .

this report on the marbled murrelet ( brachyramphus marmoratus ) was compiled and editied by the interagency marbled murrelet conservation assessment core team . the 37 chapters cover both original studies and literature reviews of many aspects of the species’ biology , ecology , and conservation needs . it includes new information on the forest habitat used for nesting , marine distribution , and demographic analyses ; and describes past and potential effects of humans on the species’ habitats . future research needs and possible management strategies for both marine and forest habitats are suggested .

during courtship , the murrelet extends its beak upward in display , calls shrilly , paddles rapidly in unison with its mate for several minutes , and then dives repeatedly . once the egg is produced , the male and the female murrelet divide the responsibility of incubating the lone egg in the nest . upon hatching , the nestlings are fed larger prey than that ingested by the parents . the marbled murrelet can fly up to 100 km one way to the sea to look for food for the young . after the rearing period , murrelet fledglings fly to the sea when they leave their nest . marbled murrelets occur in loose aggregations in predictable locations near dependable food sources . groups of one or two birds comprise 63 % of all sightings , but aggregations of 100 - 3197 birds have been reported .

the steller ' s jay likes campgrounds and picnic sites , and its population is booming in western forests . though the jay doesn ' t rely on eggs for food , the dense population living near murrelet nesting sites means some birds find and eat murrelet eggs and chicks .

though the marbled murrelet was first described in 1789 , a nest site of the species was first discovered and formally documented only in 1974 . the egg , however , was known in 1898 , when a bird was shot that contained a complete egg in its oviduct .

the marbled murrelet is found near coastal waters , in bays and on mountains . it nests at high elevations in old growth forest , often at great distances from the coast ( 3 ) . this species can be found up to 500 meters offshore ( 2 ) .

the marbled murrelet is a very small , chubby , sea bird that seems to lack a neck . it has a dark brown to black dorsum and a white venter and throat . the nonbreeding plumage includes a strip of white between the back and the wing , thus the name " marbled " . the breeding plumage is dark brown dorsally ; ventral feathers are white tipped with brown . males and females are of approximately the same size , 9 . 5 - 10 " wingspan . bill length is 13 - 18 mm ; wing length ( relaxed ) is 120 - 140mm . the voice of the marbled murrelet is a sharp " keer " or lower " kee . "

“we have a responsibility to restore old - growth forests and help marbled murrelet populations recover within washington , ” said dave werntz , science and conservation director with conservation northwest . “we can ensure jobs and wildlife over the long run if we manage our state forests sustainably . ”

inland survey protocol : methods for surveying marbled murrelets in forests : a revised protocol for land management and research . january 2003 . report

overall , the conservation of marbled murrelets may hinge on protecting not only nesting habitat–the focus of conservation efforts to date–but also on foraging habitat . in an effort to better understand important marine habitats for marbled murrelets , we conducted a study of marine habitat selection by individually - tagged murrelets . studies of habitat selection by individually tagged animals are important for examining habitat selection for conservation planning [ 11 ] . our objective was to model marine habitat selection by marbled murrelets during the breeding season to better understand the relative influence of marine versus terrestrial habitat features on murrelet space use while at - sea . we conducted this study in northwestern washington , the location of the steepest murrelet declines documented to date .

mcfarlane tranquilla la , yen pp - w , bradley rw , vanderkist ba , lank db , parker nr , et al . do two murrelets make a pair ? breeding status and behavior of marbled murrelet pairs captured at sea . wilson bulletin . 2003 ; 115 : 374–381 .

incubation lasts about 30 days and both males and females incubate the egg . once hatched , nesltings are fed 2 to 4 times per day by both adults . marbled murrelet parents often fly 60 - 100 km round trip to gather herring and sand lance to feed their young .

the marbled murrelet ( brachyramphus marmoratus ) is a federally threatened seabird that requires two fundamentally different habitats for breeding . foraging occurs at sea because murrelets are pursuit - diving seabirds whose primary prey are small schooling fish and large zooplankton . however , coastal , old - growth coniferous forests are used for nesting in much of their range . like many alcids , marbled murrelets do not build nests and instead rely on naturally deposited materials for a nest platform . unlike other alcids , however , in the marbled murrelet a single egg is typically laid directly on a large , mossy limb in the forest canopy . in most cases , only large , old trees have limbs of sufficient diameter for these unusual nests .

this sort of conditioning of the jays is called conditioned taste aversion ( cta ) . the fish and wildlife service explains that”ays that ingest carbacholtreated eggs are expected to associate the unpleasant experience with murrelet eggs such that they modify their behavior and avoid ingesting actual murrelet eggsthey encounter in the future . ”

yen ppw , huettmann f , cooke f . a large - scale model for the at - sea distribution and abundance of marbled murrelets (

naslund nl . why do marbled murrelets attend old - growth forest nesting areas year - round ? auk . 1993 ; 110 : 594–602 .

marbled murrelets feed mostly on fish up to 8 or 9 cm in length and on shrimp - like crustaceans such as euphausids and mysids .

activity in forest nesting areas is highest from may to august , while marbled murrelets congregate in sheltered waters with abundant prey during winter months .

with cash earmarked for murrelets from offshore - oil - spill restoration funds , the parks have the rare ability to fund research studies and restore habitat . the two - pronged approach will teach the black - crested jays to avoid murrelet eggs on pain of puking . more importantly , it will shrink the jay population by thwarting access to their primary food source — human trash and food . [ image gallery : saving the rare marbled murrelet ]

the marbled murrelet is marvelously adapted to life amidst the emerald - green islands and cold , marine waters along the northwest coast of north america . marbled murrelets depend on both marine and forest habitat . murrelets are general found in near - shore waters ( within 3 miles from the coast ) with nesting areas nearby . some birds may venture miles inland to suitable nesting habitat . unlike typical seabirds that nest in dense colonies on remote islands , the marbled murrelet is a solitary , secretive nester , preferring the mossy boughs of mature coniferous trees in the coastal rainforest . while some murrelets remain at breeding areas year - round , others migrate further south . it remains a mystery where the majority of alaska’s murrelets spend the winter .

fish , u . s . and wildlife service . 1992d . endangered and threatened wildlife and plants ; determination of threatened status for the washington , oregon and california population of the marbled murrelet . usdi fish and wildl . serv . fed . reg . no . 57 : 45328 - 45337 . close

for every endangered animal , there are probably at least two plans to save it . many of these plans involve raising public awareness , conserving habitat , removing invasive species or breeding new members in captivity . but for the marbled murrelet , the plan is a little different : making their predators vomit .

speckman sg , piatt jf , springer am . small boats disturb fish - holding marbled murrelets . northwestern naturalist . 2004 ; 85 : 32–34 .

tree searches since then have produced 19 nest locations in old growth forests . due to the difficulty of locating the nests of these elusive birds , it is necessary to implement plans for further research before the marbled murrelet becomes an indicator species such as the spotted owl ( carter and morisson , 1992 ) .

sealy sg . feeding ecology of the ancient and marbled murrelets near langara island , british columbia . canadian journal zoology . 1974 ; 53 : 418–433 .

to boost california ' s murrelet numbers , biologists in california ' s redwood national and state parks are fighting back against steller ' s jays and their human enablers .

but the marbled murrelet wasn ' t out of the woods yet . the fish and wildlife service found merit in a timber - industry petition to remove the bird ' s protections based on the same unscientific finding proved tainted in february 2008 . fortunately , after the center and a coalition of conservation partners demanded that the service uphold the murrelet ' s protections , in 2009 the agency released a report finding that murrelets in washington , california and oregon still need federal safeguards , due mostly to the extensive logging of their northwest old - growth habitat . in august 2016 the fish and wildlife service finalized protections on nearly 3 . 7 million acres of critical habitat in washington , oregon and california for the marbled murrelet , firmly barring the timber industry from attempts to open up more federal lands within this area for logging .

ward ' s research revealed most park visitors only read the first sentence on signs , so starting with the marbled murrelet ' s history was wasted effort . now , with everything from stickers on the back of bathroom stalls to new signs at campsites , redwood parks visitors are warned to " keep it crumb clean . " this summer marks the new program ' s first big push , with campfire talks , tchotchkes for kids , brochures and youtube videos that highlight the murrelet ' s plight .

falxa ga , raphael mg . northwest forest plan—the first 20 years ( 1994–2013 ) : status and trend of marbled murrelet populations and nesting habitat . gen . tech . rep . pnw - gtr - 933 . portland , or : u . s . department of agriculture , forest service , pacific northwest research station . 2016 .

support for models explaining marine resource selection by marbled murrelets in northwestern washington , u . s . a . , and southwestern british columbia , canada , 2004–2008 .

relative influence of variables explaining marine resource selection marbled murrelets in northwestern washington , u . s . a . , and southwestern british columbia , canada , 2004–2008 .

the alaskan population is estimated at 250 , 000 birds , centered in south central and south eastern parts of the state , but extending into bristol bay and along the aleutian islands . this represents the bulk of the north american population . logging efforts are expanding in the areas of the greatest murrelet population . continued logging will produce major declines in murrelet numbers . inland records from british columbia , washington , and oregon suggested the presence of nests in old growth forests , although none had been found prior to 1990 . marbled murrelet numbers in british columbia are an estimated 45 , 000 - 50 , 000 birds , with the highest density on the west coast of vancouver island . the marbled murrelet population of washington is estimated at 5 , 000 , centered in the northern puget sound area . oregon ' s population is estimated at 2 , 000 - 4 , 000 birds , located mostly in the central coastal region . there is also a small population of murrelets , ( 1400 - 1700 birds ) on the north central coast of california .

raphael mg , falxa ga , dugger km , galleher bm , lynch d , miller sl , et al . status and trend of nesting habitat for the marbled murrelet under the northwest forest plan . general technical report . pnw - gtr - 848 . u . s . department of agriculture , forest service , portland , or . 2011 .

marbled murrelet recordings by thomas g . sander © cornell lab of ornithology macaulay library cornell lab of ornithology 159 sapsucker woods road ithaca new york 14850 united states of america tel : + 1 ( 607 ) 254 - 2404 fax : + 1 ( 607 ) 254 - 2439 email : macaulaylibrary @ urltoken website : www . birds . urltoken / macaulaylibrary

steller ' s jays don ' t seek out murrelet eggs . but when the birds circle picnic areas near murrelet nests , some discover the chicken - size eggs make a fine treat . the smart , savvy birds will return to the same spot over and over , searching for food . murrelets , to their misfortune , nest in the same tree every year .

the north american subspecies of marbled murrelet ranges from the aleutian islands and southern alaska to central california . the largest portion of the population occurs in alaska and british columbia . the listed portion of the species range extends from the canadian border south to central california . due to loss of older forests used for nesting sites , the species is declining . current estimates indicate that the population has declined by 50 to 80 percent . along the oregon coast , recent surveys have shown a decline in murrelet numbers during the 1990s . loss of viable nesting habitat is thought to be a primary factor responsible for an estimated annual 4 percent to 7 percent decline in marbled murrelet populations in washington , oregon , and california . it is unlikely that population numbers will increase rapidly due to the naturally low reproductive rate and the continued loss of nesting habitat . recovery of the species is likely to take decades .

, the marbled murrelet is federally listed under the endangered species act as a threatened species in washington , oregon and california , and state - listed as endangered in california and as threatened in oregon and washington . critical habitat is designated for the species and a new proposal for critical habitat is available for review . a final recovery plan is in effect .

marbled murrelets have been called “the enigma of the pacific” as they are one of the last birds in north america to have their nest described . in the united states , the first documented nest was discovered in 1974 high up in a douglas fir tree in california’s big basin redwoods state park . advances in technology have allowed researchers to attach tiny radio - transmitters to adults captured at sea , and follow them back to their nests . to date , several hundred marbled murrelet nests have been located and described . the species nests primarily in mature coniferous trees . a small number of murrelet nests have been found in alaska including , some on the ground on moss - covered ledges in areas with few trees .

in 1992 , the u . s . fish and wildlife service ( usfws ) listed the marbled murrelet as threatened in oregon , washington and endangered in california under the federal endangered species act . they are a red list species in canada , which is similar to the u . s . listing as a threatened species . populations are declining at an annual rate of 4 - 7 % across the southern portion of their range . it is believed that marbled murrelets will likely become extinct in california within the next 40 years .

in washington , marbled murrelets inhabit calm , shallow , coastal waters and bays , but breed inland , up to 45 miles from shore , in mature , wet forest .

comparison of habitat features at locations available versus used by marbled murrelets in northwestern washington , u . s . a . , and southwestern british columbia , canada , 2004–2008 .

raphael mg , mack de , cooper ba . landscape - scale relationships between abundance of marbled murrelets and distribution of nesting habitat . condor . 2002 ; 104 : 331–342 .

the marbled murrelet is not , by any stretch , a bombshell bird . its plump , football - shaped figure and homely plumage means it’s usually overshadowed by its more colorful cousins—puffins and auklets . but their nesting habits are nothing short of remarkable : despite their seaside lifestyle , marbled murrelets travel up to fifty miles inland to nest hundreds of feet in the air in old growth forests . rather than building traditional nests , they hunker into the moss - covered branches of centuries - old trees and lay a single egg , relying on the girth of ancient tree limbs to keep the egg stable . the wide branches of douglas firs and western hemlocks are perfect for the murrelets’ stout little bodies to brood upon . unfortunately , it’s this same breadth that makes old growth forests ideal for logging—a practice that has devastated marbled murrelet habitat and cut some populations in half over the past 15 years .

if additional research finds that the marbled murrelet lives exclusively in old - growth forests and that their numbers decrease proportionally with the decrease in acres of forest , then it could be deemed an indicator species thus a justifiable deterent for further logging operations . the decrease in logging leads to a loss of income and jobs in the logging industry ( carter , morrison ) .

conservation measures taken to date include the protection of some areas supporting the marbled murrelet from future logging . detailed research has been carried out on this murrelet , and a recovery plan has been produced . furthermore , 179 km² of afognak island has been protected since 1998 by the exxon valdex trustee council . proposed measures include research , particularly into the feeding ecology of this bird in order to fully understand the threats facing it . it is vital that suitable nesting habitat is protected and that fish stocks in known feeding areas are not severely damaged ( 2 ) .

haynes tb , nelson sk , newman sh . diel shifts in the marine distribution on marbled murrelets near port snettisham , southeast alaska . waterbirds . 2010 ; 33 : 471–478 .

the u . s . department of natural resources ( wdnr ) began developing a marbled murrelet long - term conservation strategy in 2007 ( escene 2007 ) ; the final strategy still has not been released as of 2016 . the northwest forest plan ( 1994 ) is expected to ensure the protection of a large proportion of important habitats in the usa ( raphael 2006 ) .

the distribution and numbers of this species have declined primarily because logging and coastal development have removed significant portions of its essential nesting habitat . gill - net fishing and oil spills also kill this species and threaten its prey . the marbled murrelet was listed as a threatened species in canada in 1990 and in the southern portion of its range in the united states in 1992 (

although most murrelet nesting habitat on private lands has been eliminated by logging , suitable habitat remains on federal - and state - owned lands . areas of critical habitat have been designated within the three - state area to protect habitat and promote the recovery of the species . these areas include approximately 3 million acres of federal lands and almost one million acres of state , county , city and private lands . over the next 50 to 100 years , the protected areas on federal lands should provide for an increase in suitable nesting habitat . although timber continues to be harvested , timber sale programs on federal lands require consultation with the u . s . fish and wildlife service to review and assess the potential impacts of the timber harvests on the marbled murrelet . in 1997 , the fish and wildlife service approved a recovery plan for the marbled murrelet that specified actions necessary to halt the decline of the species in the three - state area .

in 1974 at california ' s big basin redwood state park , the marbled murrelet — the “enigma of the pacific” — won the distinction of being the last bird species in the united states to have its nesting site discovered . this came on the heels of more than a century of searching by early ornithologists for the elusive murrelet “nest . ” actually , though , rather than building a nest , this seabird travels inland as much as 50 miles to lay a single egg high in the old - growth forest canopy , which it depends on for survival . but as old - growth forests have declined , so too has the murrelet , with commercial logging representing the greatest threat to the species , followed by climate change , oil spills and entanglements in gillnets .

the marbled murrelet is a small , robin - sized , diving seabird that feeds primarily on fish and invertebrates in near - shore marine waters . it spends the majority of its time on the ocean , roosting and feeding , but comes inland up to 80 kilometers ( 50 miles ) to nest in forest stands with old growth forest characteristics . these dense shady forests are generally characterized by large trees with large branches or deformities for use as nest platforms . murrelets nest in stands varying in size from several acres to thousands of acres . however , larger , unfragmented stands of old growth appear to be the highest quality habitat for marbled murrelet nesting . nesting stands are dominated by douglas fir in oregon and washington and by old - growth redwoods in california .

reducing predation on murrelet nests by 40 percent to 70 percent would stabilize the santa cruz mountains murrelet population , according to the 2010 study published in the journal biological conservation . that 40 percent minimum would drop the extinction risk from about 96 percent to about 5 percent over 100 years , and result in stable population growth , reported lead study author zach peery of the university of wisconsin - madison .

barbaree ba , nelson sk , dugger bd . marine space use by marbled murrelets brachyramphus marmoratus at a mainland fjord system in southeast alaska . marine ornithology . 2015 ; 116 : 173–184 .

a steller ' s jay inspects a fake murrelet egg that contains a vomit - inducing ingredient called carbachol . the red egg is an experimental control . tests in california ' s redwood national and state parks found jay predation dropped up to 80 percent after these dummy eggs were set out in the forests , indicating that the jays learned to avoid the murrelet eggs after the nasty effects of the fake eggs .

to further guide management efforts , we also suggest that an important next step is to obtain spatially and temporally explicit information on the distribution of forage fish and other murrelet prey in our study area . such research should also examine the distributions of forage fish and marine invertebrates relative to remotely sensed sst and chlorophyll - a in washington . information on the distribution of forage fish would aid in assessing the extent to which remotely sensed variables can be used to predict murrelet space use or abundance in our study area . lacking such information , our results suggest murrelet use of some near - shore areas may be limited by nesting habitat availability , shoreline type , and terrestrial footprint , particularly around large metropolitan areas . future efforts should explore this further , with the possibility of protecting shoreline near the remaining tracts of nesting habitat from a high degree of development . while we recognize the challenges posed by such an approach , we contend that successful conservation of the marbled murrelet is likely to involve challenges irrespective of the approach taken .

ralph , c . john ; hunt , george l . , jr . ; raphael , martin g . ; piatt , john f . , technical editors . 1995 . ecology and conservation of the marbled murrelet . gen . tech . rep . psw - gtr - 152 . albany , ca : pacific southwest research station , forest service , u . s . department of agriculture ; 420 p

the marbled murrelet breeds on mountains near the coast . breeding season is from mid - april to the end of august . females have been collected with shelled eggs in their oviducts from april 23 to july 13 . the murrelet has single egg clutches . murrelets may not fledge young until mid - september , based on a 30 - day incubation and a 28 - day rearing period . nesting sites are almost exclusively in old - growth forests , yet some have been found in cavities in subalpine areas , and on the ground on islands . murrelet eggs are yellowish and spotted . the first known nest was found in a rock slide far above the timber line at 1900 ft . on chicago island , alaska , on june 13 , 1931 . ( peterson , 1961 ; carter and morrison , 1992 ) .

although marbled murrelets forage in similar areas year round , they appear to be more dispersed and farther offshore in winter , although the highest densities of birds can still be found in protected water .

despite its amazing skills , the marbled - murrelet population is down by more than 90 percent from its 19th - century numbers in california , thanks to logging , fishing and pollution . murrelets live as far north as alaska , but the central california population is most at risk . yet even though the state ' s remaining old - growth redwood trees are now protected , the murrelets continue to disappear .

assessment through 1995 : ralph , c . j . , g . l . hunt , jr . , m . g . raphael , and j . f . piatt , ( technical editors ) . 1995 . ecology and conservation of the marbled murrelet . general technical report psw - gtr - 152 , pacific southwest research station , u . s . d . a . forest service , albany , ca

in 1992 , the u . s . fish and wildlife service listed marbled murrelet as a threatened species in washington , oregon , and california in response to steep declines in the abundance and distribution of their old - growth habitat . murrelets also face other threats : nest predation by crows and ravens , and reduced quantity and quality of the small forage fish that they prey on due to changing ocean conditions .

the exxon valdez oil spill killed between 8 , 000 and 12 , 000 marbled murrelets in prince william sound . this figure represents about 5 - 10 percent of the population in the effected area .

newman sh , takekawa jy , whitworth dl , burkett ee . subcutaneous anchor attachment increases retention of radio transmitters on xantus’ and marbled murrelets . journal of field ornithology . 1999 ; 70 : 520–534 .

t he breeding range of the marbled murrelet extends from bristol bay , alaska , south to the aleutian archipelago , northeast to cook inlet , kodiak island , kenai peninsula and prince william sound , south coastally throughout the alexander archipelago of alaska , and through british columbia , washington , oregon , to northern monterey bay in central california . birds winter throughout the breeding range and also occur in small numbers off southern california .

although we have little data on the historical status of the marbled murrelet , disturbance to nesting birds and destruction of habitat through coastal development and old - growth logging has no doubt had an impact on the population . threats in the form of gill - nets and oil spills affect this species as well . the marbled murrelet was listed by the us fish and wildlife service as threatened in 1992 , and was listed as threatened by the washington state department of fish and wildlife in 1993 . certain habitats have been designated as critical for marbled murrelets . these areas are individual trees with nesting branches suitable for nests , and forested areas within half a mile of these trees when the height of the surrounding canopy is at least half as high as the nesting tree . after many years of looking for nests , ornithologists have only found nine in washington , although the breeding population in the state is estimated at 1 , 800 birds . more study is needed to understand the current status of the population and the habitat requirements of this elusive species .

marbled murrelets nest from mid - april to late september . the sexually mature adult murrelet ( at age 2 or 3 of an average 15 - year lifespan ) generally lays a single egg on a mossy limb of an old - growth conifer tree . both sexes incubate the egg in alternating 24 - hour shifts for 30 days . murrelet chicks are virtually helpless at hatching and rely on the adults for food . the adults feed the chick at least once per day , flying in ( primarily at dawn and dusk ) from feeding on the ocean , carrying one fish at a time . the young fledge from the nest in about 28 days and appear to fly directly to the sea upon leaving the nest . marbled murrelets have a naturally low reproductive rate because they lay only one egg per nest and not all adults nest every year .

predicted relative probability , with 95 % confidence intervals , of a marine area being used by marbled murrelets in washington , u . s . a . , and southwestern british columbia , canada , 2004–2008 .

t he marbled murrelet is a small pacific seabird belonging to the family alcidae . they are fast fliers with rapid wingbeats and short wings . males and females have sooty - brown upperparts with dark bars . underparts are light , mottled brown . winter adults have brownish - gray upperparts and white scapulars . the plumage of fledged young is similar to that of adults in winter . chicks are downy and tan colored with dark speckling .

" if people are looking for someone to blame for the problem the murrelet is having , i think everybody has some of that blame , " golightly said . " cutting of the old - growth forests in the past is the primary thing that put us to this point , but presently , if you visit the parks and feed the animals , you ' re contributing , too . it is coming at the expense of the murrelet . "

citation : lorenz tj , raphael mg , bloxton td jr ( 2016 ) marine habitat selection by marbled murrelets ( brachyramphus marmoratus ) during the breeding season . plos one 11 ( 9 ) : e0162670 . urltoken

marbled murrelets don’t start breeding until they are 2 or 3 years of age and they have low reproductive output . ( again , if it helps to imagine morgan freeman’s voice narrating this section , we understand ) .

in kenai fjords , we encounter the marbled murrelet mostly during the breeding season . at this time , it is brown with irregular white bars and mottled back and wings . the neck and undersides are a yellowy - white . it has a short , thin bill often carried pointing up at an angle . winter plumage is a starker white belly and throat with black or brown covering the back , wings and the head down to and including the eye .

marbled murrelets normally feed in near - shore marine waters , including shallow bays , channels and fjords . although groups of up to 100 murrelets may be attracted to sites where fish are concentrated , they feed as individuals .

for years , the center has defended the marbled murrelet from its top threat : in 2005 , we filed suit against a logging company and the state of california for harming the bird and its forest home , and in 2008 we succeeded in halting a timber - industry attack on the bird ' s endangered species act status — a lawsuit to remove protections based on a finding that was scientifically flawed due to political interference under the bush administration . we halted another attack in 2013 , as well as filing a lawsuit against the california department of parks and recreation for its failure to protect the murrelet under a new management plan for big basin redwoods state park in california ' s santa cruz mountains .

the marbled murrelet is a weird little bird . it spends some of its time in the redwood forest and some of its time in the pacific ocean . they’re like puffins—little duck like birds with webbed feet—which makes it odd to see them in the forest . but the birds breed in the forest , which is where the jay likes to snatch their eggs . because of this egg snatching , along with deforestation and pollution , the murrelet population is down by over 90 percent compared to it nineteenth century population . the steller’s jay , however , is doing quite well . the cornell ornithology lab describes them as “bold , inquisitive , intelligent , and noisy . ” now they can add “pukey” to that list .

marbled murrelets have declined by almost 30 percent since 1992 . that’s steep . despite federal public land protections , in washington ssate murrelets’ old forest habitat has declined by more than 10 percent , notably on state and private lands .

raphael mg , shirk aj , falxa ga , pearson sf . habitat associations of marbled murrelets during the nesting season in nearshore waters along the washington to california coast . journal of marine systems . 2015 ; 146 : 17–25 .

the marbled murrelet is found along the western coast of the usa and canada in california , washington , oregon , british columbia , alaska , prince william sound , kenai peninsula , lower cook inlet , barren islands , afognak and kodiak islands , the alaska peninsula and the aleutians . historically , the decline of this species has been most severe in washington , oregon and california ; at present , however , the worst losses are occurring in british columbia and alaska ( 2 ) .

there is little information on marbled murrelet population trends , but they appear to be a species in decline . the north american waterbird conservation plan estimates a continental breeding population of 300 , 000 - 800 , 000 birds , rates the species a 15 out of 20 on the continental concern score , and lists it as a species of high concern . populations of marbled murrelet in washington , oregon , and california , are on the 2014 state of the birds watch list , which lists bird species that are at risk of becoming threatened or endangered without conservation action . the species is listed as endangered on the iucn red list , and as threatened under the endangered species act by the u . s . fish and wildlife service . logging and development of forested nesting habitat are considered the greatest threats to this species . significant portions of nesting areas have already been lost . oil spills and entanglement in gill - nets are also major risks . back to top