Marbled Murrelets have been out at sea all winter and are just starting to come inshore and inland for the breeding season. These federally threatened seabirds nest in the mature and old-growth coastal forests from Alaska to central California. Their population decline--29% in Washington, Oregon, and California between 2000 and 2010--is caused, in part, by high rates of nest predation. Steller's Jay, Common Ravens, and American Crows (a group of birds known as corvids) are among the chief predators and are abundant in many of our state parks that protect murrelet nesting habitat.
Marbled Murrelets spend about two months in the forest incubating and feeding their one chick. During this time, the Murrelet is extremely vulnerable, with little protection but its camouflaging plumage, stillness and silence on the nest. A murrelet egg and chick make an easy meal for corvid. Don't make it easier for them.
Please heed the advice in this poster and help keep our parks safe for Marbled Murrelets.