Clief and Deciduous Tree Nests of Marbled Murrelets in Southwestern British Columbia

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Abstract
We report on nests of radio-marked marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus marmoratus) nesting in unusual habitats in southwestern British Columbia. We found 1 confirmed and 2 probable marbled murrelet nest sites on cliffs. These represent the 1st substantiated accounts of ground nesting in this species south of Alaska. In addition, we found a marbled murrelet nesting in a 130 (±5)-yr-old red alder (Alnus rubra) deciduous tree. A survey of available nesting sites in both the nest tree patch and the mixed coniferous-deciduous stand adjacent to this deciduous nest tree indicated most potential nesting trees were deciduous and that deciduous trees had a higher density of potential nesting sites. These unusual sites represent a very small proportion (7% of confirmed sites, 3% of suspected sites) of nest sites found in British Columbia using radio telemetry. Both confirmed nest sites consisted of a platform with heavy epiphyte cover and an adjacent flyway, similar to nests found in mature coniferous forest.

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