The death knell is ringing for Oregon's marbled murrelet. The seabird, which nests in old growth coastal forests and hunts for fish beyond the surf, is losing the battle against extinction. And this despite the best efforts of conservationists. An impartial study published in the international research journal The Condor found that marbled murrelet numbers in five different study areas fell sharply between 2001 and 2010. The count dropped from 22,200 to roughly 16,700. And this included four of the five conservation areas identified in the federal Marbled Murrelet Recovery Plan. Marbled murrelets live in Oregon, Washington and California. They’ve been on the federal endangered species list for more than 20 years, but they're worse off than ever. “This study confirms the fears that many conservationists have held for years,” says Steve Holmer, senior policy analyst for the American Bird Conservancy, about the report published in December. “By showing that the marbled murrelet is still in sharp decline, the study emphasizes the need for stronger, more aggressive conservation measures.”
Source: Portland Tribune, 16 may 2013
http://portlandtribune.com/sl/152437-marbled-murrelet-in-steep-decline
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