Marbled Murrelet Nesting Habitat

The marbled murrelet inhabits the nearshore marine environment in western north america.

Marbled murrelet nesting habitat.

It is found in marine waters in general proximity to nesting habitat. Lo and behold the nesting habitat of marbled murrelets was finally discovered coastal old growth coniferous forests of the pacific northwest. 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. The primary cause of marbled murrelet population decline is the loss and modification of nesting habitat in old growth and mature forests through commercial timber harvests human induced fires and land conversions and to a lesser degree through natural causes such as wild fires and wind storms.

Marbled murrelet winter habitat is the same as the nesting and foraging habitat. The use of inland lakes during the nonbreeding season occurs in conjunction with visits to nesting areas. In washington this species is an uncommon resident. Most animals stick to a life style similar to other closely related species.

The marbled murrelet s breeding habitat requirements have been the subject of intense study since the first nests were discovered in the 1970s.