The marbled murrelet is a small seabird that lives along the Pacific coast of North America from Alaska to central California. This unique bird spends most of its life offshore, but comes inland to nest in mature coastal forests. The marbled murrelet has declined in numbers in recent decades due to loss of nesting habitat and other threats, and is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Understanding why the marbled murrelet is important can help us protect this species and its forest home.
Ecological Role
The marbled murrelet plays an important ecological role in nearshore marine ecosystems. As a predator of small fish and invertebrates like krill, sand lance, and herring, the murrelet helps regulate prey populations. Murrelets are highly vulnerable to fluctuations in prey availability, so their numbers also indicate the health of forage fish stocks. Declines in murrelet populations can signal declines in prey that would impact many other marine predators too.
In terrestrial ecosystems, marbled murrelets help disperse nutrients from marine to forest environments. Their nitrogen-rich guano deposited on forest floors provides nutrients to trees and plants. At sea, murrelets host bioluminescent dipteran larvae that illuminate the birds at night, creating a stunning light show and opportunities for scientists to study marine food webs. Overall, the marbled murrelet connects marine and forest food webs in a unique way.
Old-Growth Forest Dependency
Unlike most seabirds, marbled murrelets nest inland, flying up to 50 miles inland to nest on mossy platforms high in the branches of mature and old-growth trees. Their nest sites are typically in forests over 200 years old with platforms over 33 feet high. This old-growth forest dependency makes the murrelet an “indicator species” for remaining tracts of intact coastal old-growth in the Pacific Northwest. Where murrelets nest, ancient forest ecosystems persist.
Protecting remaining old-growth forests is crucial for murrelet recovery. Over 90% of the murrelet’s original nesting habitat has been lost to logging over the past century. The remaining scattered patches may not be enough to sustain stable murrelet populations. By conserving areas where murrelets nest, many other old-growth-dependent species will benefit.
Vulnerability to Population Decline
Several factors make marbled murrelet populations vulnerable to decline:
Low reproductive rate
Murrelets lay just one egg per year, so their reproduction rate is low. Parents invest significant energy into raising one chick per year. Population growth is slow as a result.
Nest predation
On land, murrelet eggs and chicks are vulnerable to predators like jays, ravens, and squirrels. Predation rates in fragmented habitat near forest edges can be quite high, limiting reproductive success.
Prey availability
At sea, murrelets are highly dependent on small schooling fish and invertebrates. Changes in ocean conditions that affect prey abundance quickly impact murrelet survival and breeding success.
Oil spills
Oil spills are a major threat, especially in nearshore waters where murrelets concentrate. Even small spills near nesting areas can have significant impacts on local populations.
Gillnet fishing
Accidental drowning in gillnets is a problem, as murrelets chase prey drawn to the nets. Gillnets have contributed to population declines in Washington and British Columbia.
Because of these vulnerabilities, murrelet populations are slow to recover once disturbed. Protecting existing populations from further decline is crucial.
Legal Protections
The marbled murrelet was federally listed as a threatened species in Washington, Oregon, and California in 1992. This listing protects murrelets from harm and requires land management agencies to conserve habitat on public lands. Other key legal protections include:
Endangered Species Act
The murrelet is protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as a threatened species. ESA provisions prohibit killing, harming, or harassing murrelets and require habitat conservation by federal agencies.
Migratory Bird Treaty Act
This act makes it illegal to kill, capture, possess, or sell murrelets or their eggs, nests, or feathers. It provides an additional layer of legal protection.
Northwest Forest Plan
This landscape-scale management plan provides protected forest reserves on federal lands to benefit the murrelet and other old-growth species.
Critical habitat designation
Over 3.7 million acres of public and private land have been designated as critical habitat under the ESA to promote murrelet recovery.
These protections aim to stabilize murrelet populations, but recovery requires expanded habitat protection across public and private lands. Stronger forest management policies on state lands and collaborative conservation on industrial timberlands will be key.
Cultural Significance
The marbled murrelet has cultural significance for Native American tribes, reflecting the close connections between coastal peoples and coastal forests in the Pacific Northwest.
Creation stories
In stories of some tribes, like the Cowlitz and Quinault peoples, the murrelet plays a role as a messenger between supernatural and natural worlds.
Totem poles
The murrelet is depicted on the totem poles of tribes like the Tlingit. Murrelets represented traits like resourcefulness, determination, and resilience.
Subsistence and materials
Coastal tribes traditionally harvested murrelet eggs for food and used murrelet feathers and bones for cultural handicrafts. Forest nesting sites were passed down through generations.
Environmental stewardship
For tribes, the decline of the murrelet represents the loss of old-growth forests and marine resources they worked to steward for millennia. Tribes remain committed to restoring balanced ecosystems.
Understanding this cultural context helps illustrate the deep roots the murrelet has in Pacific Northwest Indigenous identities and worldviews. Conservation policies can be strengthened by respecting these long-held cultural values.
Ecotourism Potential
The marbled murrelet also holds potential as a unique species for ecotourism. Murrelet-focused tours could showcase the remaining old-growth forests and productive marine ecosystems these birds rely on.
Some potential ecotourism opportunities include:
Boat tours
Offering boat tours to see murrelets on coastal waters, timed with dawn and dusk feeding.
Forest tours
Guiding birdwatchers into remaining old-growth reserves to glimpse nesting behaviors.
Stewardship volunteering
Organizing habitat restoration activities for ecotourists to assist murrelet conservation.
Citizen science
Training interested tourists to assist with population monitoring and research.
Sustainable funding
Directing proceeds from murrelet ecotourism to support habitat protection and access management.
Done respectfully and sustainably, murrelet-based ecotourism could promote ongoing conservation efforts while benefiting local economies.
Conclusion
Protecting the threatened marbled murrelet is important for many reasons. As an indicator of coastal old-growth forests and marine ecosystem health, conserving the murrelet will have cascading benefits for many species. Upholding legal protections, expanding habitat conservation, and respecting tribal values can all help stabilize murrelet populations. With thoughtful management, the marbled murrelet can remain an iconic part of Pacific Northwest forests and seascapes for generations to come.