The world would be a much less mysterious place without the marbled murrelet. The robin-sized sea bird feeds and swims in the Pacific Ocean, but, when it comes time to raise a family, it travels 50 miles in land to nest in Oregon's deep forests. The murrelet's lifestyle was such an enigma that scientists were unable to locate its nests until the 1970s. Now, the murrelet is in danger of extinction.
Unchecked logging threatens the endangered murrelet in various ways. Some birds die when their nests are toppled. Others perish when forest fragmentation gives better access to predatory jays and ravens. According to a recent article in the Oregonian, four timber sales occurring since 1996 have compromised 654 acres in or near murrelet management areas.
Several environmental groups are suing the Oregon Department of Forestry for dropping the ball on murrelet protections. Tell Oregon to stop allowing logging in murrelet habitat!
We the undersigned do not believe you are doing enough to protect the marbled murrelet from further population decline.
Timber sales and deforestation in or near the bird's nesting areas may drive it all the way to extinction. Your management of Oregon's forests has made the murrelet extremely vulnerable to predation from more aggressive birds, especially blue jays and ravens. Please prohibit further logging in the rare and mysterious murrelet's nesting grounds.
