Elk River's Endangered Marbled Murrelet
The Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus), sometimes called a Fog Lark, is a small robin-size sea bird that nests in dense old-growth forest, usually within 20 miles of the ocean.
When we picture the condition of forest landscapes along the Pacific coast, it becomes obvious why the Marbled Murrelet is an endangered species, and why Elk River watershed is critical to their protection: Elk River watershed is quite intact - its large areas of publicly-owned healthy native forest host one of the greatest concentrations of nesting murrelets in the entire Pacific Northwest.
The privately owned forestland along the lower Elk river is second-growth. These forests take at least 150 years to become suitable for murrelet nesting habitat. At 50 or 60 years, however, the forests become tall and dense enough to discourage murrelet predators -- providing buffers for actual nesting sites. Sea to Siskiyous Passway parcel 1 currently buffers a known murrelet nest site.
Second-growth forests occasionally contain a few leftover old-growth trees that have platform structures murrelets need for nesting. As soon as the surrounding forests grow tall enough to provide a protective buffer for these residual nest trees, this forest can become murrelet habitat. Sea to Siskiyous Passway parcel 2 offers this 'recruitment habitat' opportunity.
Second-growth forests can sometimes be very carefully thinned to speed development of old growth characteristics, thus becoming murrelet habitat sooner than would be the case without management. Both Sea to Siskiyous Passway parcels 1 and 2 offer this 'recruitment habitat' opportunity.
Visit the Friends of Elk River website
to read more about the marbled murrelet's fascinating
life history.
