Pacific Southwest Research Station

Publications and Products

General Technical Report

Title: Surveying marbled murrelets at inland forested sites: a guide

Author: Paton, Peter W.C.; Ralph, C. John; Carter, Harry R.; Nelson, S. Kim

Date: 1990

Source: Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-120. Berkeley, Calif.: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station. 9 p

Station ID: GTR-PSW-120

Description: The marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus), a seabird, nests in forested stands from southeast Alaska south to Santa Cruz, California. Because of this species' close association with old-growth forests, researchers and land managers need a method to assess murrelet distribution and use patterns throughout its range. This guide describes a standardized method for surveying marbled murrelets used by researchers in California and Oregon during 1988 and 1989. Transects can be used to assess activity patterns over large blocks of land, such as States or counties. Stationary counts using an intensive inventory method can be used to survey small acreages, such as individual timber sales. In addition to bird counts, vegetation and physical data should be collected at each census point. The guide includes a form that can be used to design studies and determine activity patterns and potential use.

Key Words: marbled murrelet, Brachyramphus marmoratus, seabird, census techniques, old-growth forests, California, Pacific Northwest

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Citation

Paton, Peter W.C.; Ralph, C. John; Carter, Harry R.; Nelson, S. Kim  1990.  Surveying marbled murrelets at inland forested sites: a guide  Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-120. Berkeley, Calif.: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station. 9 p.