Chapter 30: Marbled Murrelet Populations of Washington — Marine Habitat Preferences and Variability of Occurrence

Abstract

Marbled Murrelets occur in Puget Sound marine habitats in relatively low numbers. The rates of occurrence of murrelets on censuses within marine habitats is generally low. Further analysis is required to determine if low occurrence rates are a general function of the movement of birds, or their consistent occurrence on particular censuses and not on others. Qualitative data indicate that Marbled Murrelet abundance in Puget Sound is now lower than earlier this century. Such long-term information is unavailable for Marbled Murrelets along the Pacific Ocean coast of Washington. Census data from nearshore waters of the Pacific Ocean off Grays Harbor indicate that Marbled Murrelet abundance is reduced there since 1989 and especially in 1993. This pattern is also reflected in several other more oceanic species suggesting basic and widespread changes in marine carrying capacity.

Parent Publication

• Ecology and conservation of the Marbled Murrelet

Citation

Speich, Steven M.; Wahl, Terrence R. 1995. Chapter 30: Marbled Murrelet Populations of Washington — Marine Habitat Preferences and Variability of Occurrence. In: Ralph, C. John; Hunt, George L., Jr.; Raphael, Martin G.; Piatt, John F., Technical Editors. 1995. Ecology and conservation of the Marbled Murrelet. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-152. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; p. 313-326