Brachyramphus marmoratus
Habitat, Diet & Status
Habitat: Nests in old-growth forests; forages in nearshore Pacific coastal waters
ESA Status: Threatened
Diet: Small fish (such as sand lance and anchovies) and marine invertebrates
The marbled murrelet is a small seabird with a secretive life history—one that spans the boundary between ocean and forest. Unlike most seabirds, it nests not on cliffs or islands but high in the mossy branches of old-growth conifers, sometimes miles inland. At dawn and dusk, these birds fly silently between ancient forest and open sea, linking two ecosystems that depend on each other more than we often realize.
The Message and the Canopy
Murrelets have declined sharply due to the logging of old-growth forests, especially in coastal Oregon and Washington. Without large, ancient trees to nest on, they cannot reproduce successfully. At sea, they face additional threats from warming waters, declining forage fish, and oil pollution. Their continued survival depends on intact forest canopies and healthy nearshore waters.
These birds are indicators of ecosystem integrity—if the murrelets are thriving, it means both the ocean and the forest are functioning. They serve as a living symbol of how land and sea are woven together, and how the health of one affects the other. Protecting murrelets helps protect salmon, forests, seabirds, and coastal communities alike.
What You Can Do: Advocate for the protection of remaining old-growth forests in Oregon. Support marine conservation efforts that safeguard forage fish populations. Attend ECC events to learn how performance and visual art can elevate the stories of our most elusive coastal kin.
