Pacific Southwest Research Station

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Title: Breeding distribution of the marbled murrelet in Redwood National Park and vicinity during 1988

Author: Ralph, C. John; Paton, Peter W. C.; Zakis, Aivars; Strachan, Gary

Date: 1990

Source: In: Examples of Resource Inventory and Monitoring in National Parks of California. Proc. 3rd Biennial Conf. Res. in Cal. Natl. Parks, Sept. 13-15, 1988. C. van Riper Ill, T.J. Stohlgren, S.D. Veirs, Jr. and S.C. Hillver (eds.). Trans. Proc. 6., National Park Service, Washington, DC. 268 pp: 57-70

Description: We report on an intensive research effort to determine the present status of the marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) in the vicinity of Redwood National Park, in Del Norte and northern Humboldt Counties, California. This seabird is primarily an inhabitant of the nearshore waters and adjacent coastal redwood forests of the northern half of the state. Little is known of its ecology on land. Using remote sensing techniques, we mapped all old and mature forests, the potential habitat for the species. We then conducted systematic surveys of stands selected from the above inventory, recording the number of detections of birds, their behavior, and various vegetative aspects of the stands. Within the area including Redwood National Park, the nearby redwood state parks and private lands, 120 morning counts were conducted on 54 transects, with murrelets detected on 70% (38) of the transects. Bird distribution in the study area was patchy and essentially restricted to old-growth redwood forests.

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Ralph, C. John; Paton, Peter W. C.; Zakis, Aivars; Strachan, Gary  1990.  Breeding distribution of the marbled murrelet in Redwood National Park and vicinity during 1988  In: Examples of Resource Inventory and Monitoring in National Parks of California. Proc. 3rd Biennial Conf. Res. in Cal. Natl. Parks, Sept. 13-15, 1988. C. van Riper Ill, T.J. Stohlgren, S.D. Veirs, Jr. and S.C. Hillver (eds.). Trans. Proc. 6., National Park Service, Washington, DC. 268 pp: 57-70.