Marbled Murrelet Survey

Paul Engelmeyer (purple sweatshirt) leads a Marbled Murrelet survey in a previous year.

This annual event (13 years now) starts with an evening program about Marbled Murrelet biology and conservation, followed by a predawn on-the-ground survey the next morning. This is a unique opportunity to learn from top murrelet researchers in the state, to witness murrelets in flight during nest exchange, and to see murrelets foraging in nearshore waters.  Marbled Murrelets are listed as threatened federally and endangered at the state level. This effort connects the public with the plight of this species in its Oregon stronghold on the central coast.

The evening session prepares volunteers to help in the morning.  No prior training required.  This is the first of two sessions.  The second takes place July 26-27 (see separate listing).

Oregon State University ornithologist and Marbled Murrelet expert Kim Nelson and local naturalist Abigail DeYoung will lead the surveys with Paul Engelmeyer, manager of Audubon’s Ten Mile Creek Sanctuary. Staging will take place in Yachats, on the central coast of Oregon, and the survey for endangered Marbled Murrelets will take place in the Cummins Creek, Ten Mile Creek, and Yachats landscape. This area includes the recently designated “Globally Significant” Central Coast Murrelet Important Bird Area, with 100,000 acres of murrelet habitat in the Siuslaw National Forest and adjacent nearshore waters.

Volunteers will view and discuss old-growth forest habitat as well as the recently designated Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve and Seabird Protection Area. During the morning surveys, participants will see and/or hear murrelets on both breeding territory and in their nearshore feeding areas.

Survey training starts at 6:30 PM on July 19 at the Yachats Commons (441 Hwy 101).  Survey site selections and directions (maps) will be distributed.

Morning survey at upland sites starts before sunrise on July 20 and ends two hours later and nearshore surveys (six coastal sites) start at 9 a.m. ends at 10 a.m.

RSVPs are necessary.  Complete the RSVP Form.  If you have any questions about this event contact Paul Engelmeyer, Portland Audubon’s Ten Mile Creek Sanctuary manager and Coastal IBA Coordinator, at 541-547-4227, pengelmeyer@peak.org, or Joe Liebezeit, Audubon’s Avian Conservation Program Manager, 971-222-6121, jliebezeit@audubonportland.org.