Common use of Marbled Murrelet Clause in Contracts

Marbled Murrelet. The Washington, Oregon, and California marbled murrelet populations were listed as threatened by USFWS in 1992. Critical habitat was designated for the species in May 1996 (USDI, 1996). Six geographic zones for marbled murrelets were identified in the Marbled Murrelet Recovery Plan (USFWS, 1997b). Two of these zones, Puget Sound (Zone 1) and Western Washington Coast Range (Zone 2), are in Washington. The most recent estimate of the total breeding population of Washington marbled murrelets is approximately 5,000 birds (Xxxxxx et al., 1992; Xxxxxx and Xxxx, 1995). These estimates were based on counts of birds on the water during the spring-summer breeding period. Both Xxxxx et al. (1995) and the Marbled Murrelet Recovery Team (USFWS, 1997b) have concluded that the listed population appears to be in a long-term downward trend. In North America, the marbled murrelet ranges along the Pacific coast from Alaska and south to California (Xxxxxxxx, 1990). Marbled murrelets are semi-colonial seabirds and are dependent for breeding and rearing habitat upon old-growth forests, or forests with an older tree component (Xxxxx et al., 1995). These stands are characterized as old-growth and late- successional coniferous forests, being of large size (greater than 32 inches in diameter at breast height) and multi-storied with a moderate to high canopy closure. The trees must have large, near-horizontal branches for egg-laying platforms, which are usually located higher up in the canopy. Breeding occurs from late spring to fall. A breeding pair will produce only one egg that incubates for approximately 30 days. The pair will incubate the egg in 24-hour shifts, rotating each evening (Xxxxxxxx, 1990). The young remain until they are capable of flying to the sea. Marbled murrelets usually move to other areas to search for food when not breeding (Xxxxx et al., 1995). Primary food sources include forage fish (smelt and sand xxxxx) (Xxxxx et al., 1995) and invertebrates (Xxxxxxxx, 1990). Marbled murrelets do not use farms for any of the stages of their lives, but farms can affect murrelets if runoff into salt water reduces forage by negatively affecting eelgrass beds and beaches. Murrelets feed on small fish (sand xxxxx and xxxxxxx) and on plankton (adults may feed primarily on plankton) (Xxxxxx, 2005). Review of the Priority Habitat and Species mapping data provided by WDFW indicates that the nearest detection location is approximately 3 miles from the Coverage Area’s northeastern boundary. With inclusion of the adjacent buffer (0.75 mile to the detection site), the outer margin of the buffer section is within approximately 1.5 miles of the northeastern Coverage Area boundary.