Marbled Murrelet Washington Habitat

In 1992 the washington oregon and california population of the marbled murrelet was federally listed as threatened.

Marbled murrelet washington habitat.

The marbled murrelet a small seabird that nests in large conifer trees is a federally threatened species covered by the washington state department of natural resources dnr s trust lands habitat conservation plan hcp. Marbled murrelets have declined by almost 30 percent since 1992. 23 2019 at 10 03 am two marbled murrelets in the puget sound off of lopez island. Despite federal public land protections in washington state murrelets old forest habitat has declined by more than 10 percent notably on state and private lands.

Fish and wildlife service usfws bases its definition of marbled murrelet nesting habitat on the presence of potential nest platforms. Platforms the most important component of murrelet nest trees is the presence of platforms. Marbled murrelet conservation strategy adopted the board of natural resources adopted a long term conservation strategy for the marbled murrelet at its meeting tuesday december 3 2019. The marbled murrelet populations in washington oregon and california were listed as threatened in 1992 by the u s.

The marbled murrelet nesting season in washington is defined as the period from april 1 to september 23. The adopted murrelet conservation strategy is the product of more than two decades of research and collaboration with scientists and community members throughout western washington to develop. A murrelet sits on its nest in the crook of a large tree branch. In october 2008 usfws initiated a 12 month status review of the species as a result of a petition to delist.

The canadian population was declared nationally threatened in 1990. Dnr has operated under an interim murrelet conservation strategy since the approval of its hcp by the us fish and wildlife service usfws in 1997. Important components of marbled murrelet nest trees in washington state murrelet nest trees in washington occur within 55 mi 88 5 km of marine waters and support the following structural and landscape components. Threatened 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 site has suitable nesting habitat if a platform tree is within a minimum 5 acre contiguous. 21 2019 at 4 23 am updated sep.