Marbled Murrelet Survey

Marbled Murrelet at sea.\Photo by Roy Lowe.

This summer's second round of this annual event (14 years now) starts with an evening program at the Yachats Commons (441 Hwy 101) on Monday, July 29, 6:30 p.m., about Marbled Murrelet biology and conservation, followed by an 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, while helping to tally numbers for the bird as a citizen science project.  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. 

Oregon State University ornithologist and Marbled Murrelet expert Kim Nelson 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 near-shore feeding areas.

Survey site selections and directions (maps) will be distributed during the evening session.  The morning survey at upland sites starts before sunrise on July 30 and ends two hours later.  Then, nearshore surveys (six coastal sites) start at 9 a.m. end 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.