North American forests provide more than timber and recreation—they are also critical habitats for diverse wildlife species. Among the many creatures that depend on old-growth and mature forests, the marbled murrelet stands out as a small seabird with unique ties to forestry. Unlike most seabirds, this species nests high in coastal conifers, creating a direct connection between sustainable forest management and its survival.
The Murrelet’s Unusual Nesting Behavior
Marbled murrelets are secretive by nature, flying inland from the Pacific Ocean to nest on moss-covered branches of towering trees. Because these birds prefer mature redwoods, Douglas firs, and other large conifers, forestry practices that reduce old-growth stands have a direct impact on their available nesting grounds. The murrelet’s reliance on dense canopies makes it especially sensitive to habitat loss and fragmentation.
Forestry Practices and Habitat Change
Commercial forestry often focuses on harvesting timber through clearcutting or rotation cycles that remove older stands. While these methods maximize economic output, they may reduce the structural complexity that species like the murrelet require. Forestry is increasingly adapting by integrating practices such as habitat set-asides, selective thinning, and longer rotation cycles. These approaches balance timber production with the preservation of ecological values.
Challenges from Fragmentation
Fragmentation is one of the greatest threats to murrelet habitat. When forests are broken into smaller patches, the nesting sites become more exposed to predators like ravens, crows, and squirrels. Forestry roads and human activity also introduce additional disturbances. Maintaining large, contiguous tracts of forest is one of the most effective ways to reduce these risks while still allowing for managed harvests.
Climate Change and Shifting Conditions
In addition to logging pressures, climate change alters the forests the murrelet depends on. Rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and increased wildfire activity are reshaping ecosystems. Forestry operations now face new challenges in adapting management strategies to maintain both economic and ecological resilience.
Other North American Species Dependent on Forests
Forests provide shelter and migration pathways for many species beyond the marbled murrelet. Several birds and mammals rely on forest ecosystems during specific stages of their life cycles:
- Swainson’s Thrush: Migrates across North America and depends on forest understory for feeding and nesting.
- Red-eyed Vireo: Known for long-distance migration, this songbird relies on deciduous forest canopies.
- Silver-haired Bat: A migratory bat species that uses forests for roosting during breeding seasons.
- Woodland Caribou: Found in northern forests, these animals require large tracts of undisturbed boreal forest to survive.
As forestry expands and landscapes change, these species face varying pressures from habitat reduction, making integrated forest management critical for their conservation.
Ways Forestry Can Support Wildlife
Sustainable forestry practices have the potential to support species like the marbled murrelet and others by focusing on:
- Maintaining buffers of mature forest along waterways and ridgelines.
- Extending harvest rotations to preserve older stands.
- Implementing selective logging instead of clearcutting in sensitive habitats.
- Reducing road building in intact forest areas to limit fragmentation.
Seabirds That Need a Forest
The marbled murrelet illustrates how deeply connected forestry is to wildlife survival. Forests are both an economic resource and a biological necessity. By adopting practices that protect critical nesting habitat, the forestry sector can help ensure that this seabird, along with countless other forest-dependent species, continues to thrive alongside sustainable timber production.