A Birder’s Guide to: Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area &

The Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge

Western Gull

December January

November February

When you can see Seabirds at Yaquina Head A Rare View October March

T he Bureau of Land Management’s Yaquina May & Early June: Courtship Displays H ead Outstanding Natural Area offers a rare, and Incubation Period close-up look into seabird breeding colonies. End of June & July: Chick Hatching and Rearing Period September April T hese colonies are typically remotely located End of July & August: Chicks Fledge a nd inaccessible to the public. The s eabirds and Birds Begin to Leave breeding at Yaquina Head, however, are August May c lose enough to observe in detail with a pair of binoculars and are a real viewing treat to all July June bird enthusiasts.

Photo by Kraig Anderson

What to See Action Throughout the Summer There are five seabird species and one While the breeding seabirds certainly steal shorebird species that breed on the coastal the show there are other sights to see at rocks, cliffs and headlands at Yaquina Yaquina Head. Grey Whales often pass just Head. Brandt’s and Pelagic Cormorants off the outer rocks and Harbor Seals can be nest on the rock tops and cliff faces seen sunning themselves and resting with respectively. Pigeon Guillemots can be their pups nearby. Flocks of California seen on the water and on cliff ledges Brown Pelicans pass overhead throughout outside of their nest cavities, Western Gulls the summer, traveling from their breeding stake out shallow ledges and Black grounds in California and Mexico to their Oystercatchers can be seen perusing the summering areas on the Oregon and intertidal for a tasty morsel. On the Washington coast. Bald Eagles also nearshore sea stacks Common Murres frequent the area and often put on stunning cover almost every inch of exposed flat displays of disturbance when they dive into rock. Standing on the observation deck the Common Murre colony in search of a visitors can see at least 50,000 Common weak or slow moving bird. From Fall to Murres packed tightly together on Colony Spring Harlequin Ducks, Surfbirds and Rock alone. In mid- to late May visitors also Black Turnstones can be seen resting and have the rare opportunity to see the foraging in the intertidal zone. courtship displays of Brandt’s Cormorants, conducted on the headland a mere stone’s Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge throw away. The coastal rocks at Yaquina Head are part of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. These areas are managed as sanctuaries for seabirds and harbor seals that use these habitats to rest and reproduce and are closed to public access at all times.

Common Murre Photo by David Ledig U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Where to Find the Birds of Yaquina Head

Brandt's Cormorants Bal d Eagl e Pelagic Cormorants Legend Roost Western Gulls Brandt's Cormorant !o Lighthouse Pigeon Guillemonts Pelagic Cormorants !G Seabirds Common Murres P Colony Rock ! Shorebirds !G !G ! Ç! Bald Eagles Ç !G L Common Murres ! Harbor Seals G !o !W Marine Garden ! !G !W

Black Oystercatcher Pelagic Cormorants Black Oystercatcher L Rocky Intertidal ! !P Photo by Ram Papish

Pelagic Cormorant Harbor Seals

Pigeon Guillemot t Photo by Gerrit Vyn Photo by Dave Pitkin

Photo by Dave Pitkin