The rock islands off the end of Yaquina Head just north of
Newport are home to crowded colonies of Common Murres that are packed in so
tightly it’s difficult to distinguish individual birds. However, yesterday I took more time than
usual to concentrate with binoculars and search out individual nesting birds. I
didn’t manage to pick out any Murres with nests, but I did find mixed in with
the Murres, Brandt’s Cormorants with nests and even young ones. How these
chicks manage to survive in this crowded and precarious location is a marvel of
nature.
We are spending some more days on the Oregon Coast, escaping
the heat in the valleys, and I am looking forward to learning more about the
sea birds at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area.
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