Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge is located on Humboldt Bay
, on the California
North Coast
near the cities of Eureka
and Arcata. The refuge exists primarily to protect and enhance wetland habitats for migratory water birds using the bay area, including tens of thousands of shorebirds, duck
s, geese
, swan
s, and the black brant
. Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, along with other public and private lands around Humboldt Bay, is one of the key stopovers for the millions of migratory birds that rely on the Pacific Flyway
. More than 200 bird species, including 80 kinds of water birds and four endangered species
, regularly feed, rest, or nest on the refuge or other areas around the bay.
, and Chinook salmon
. During the spring, the bay's eelgrass
beds are a key staging area for brant prior to their return to Arctic nesting grounds; and the refuge grassland
s provide important habitat for thousands of Aleutian cackling geese
. Like many of the refuges in the system, this one was established to preserve habitats recognized to be instrumental to the perpetual survival of migratory birds and other wildlife. Each spring, over 20,000 Aleutian cackling geese roost on the island from late January through early April. Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuge also serves as a haul out for resting marine mammals including harbor seal
, northern elephant seal
, California sea lion
, and Stellar's sea lion.
site. The "Complex" is an administrative entity that also managers the Lanphere Dunes
Unit and the Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuge
. Lanphere Dunes, located on the northern seaward shore of Humboldt Bay, contains the most pristine remaining dune ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest
and supports rare and representative examples of older forested dunes, young active dunes, dune swale wetlands, and coastal salt marsh. Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuge
is a 14 acres (56,656 m²) island located 80 miles (128.7 km) north of Humboldt Bay (less than 1 miles (1.6 km) off the Pacific Coast) near Crescent City
. The island serves as the second-largest seabird
nesting colony in California. Castle Rock Refuge has the largest breeding population of common murres in California.
Humboldt Bay
Humboldt Bay is a natural bay and a multi-basin, bar-built coastal lagoon located on the rugged North Coast of California, United States entirely within Humboldt County. The regional center and county seat of Eureka and the college town of Arcata adjoin the bay, which is the second largest enclosed...
, on the California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
North Coast
North Coast, California
The North Coast of California is a region which commonly includes Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino, Humboldt, and Del Norte counties...
near the cities of Eureka
Eureka, California
Eureka is the principal city and the county seat of Humboldt County, California, United States. Its population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census....
and Arcata. The refuge exists primarily to protect and enhance wetland habitats for migratory water birds using the bay area, including tens of thousands of shorebirds, duck
Duck
Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...
s, geese
Goose
The word goose is the English name for a group of waterfowl, belonging to the family Anatidae. This family also includes swans, most of which are larger than true geese, and ducks, which are smaller....
, swan
Swan
Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae...
s, and the black brant
Black Brant
The Black Brant or Pacific Brent Goose, Branta bernicla nigricans, is a sub-species of the Brent Goose that breeds in Alaska and winters in Baja California. There are an estimated 115,000 black brant in the world and about 14,000 are taken each year by hunters. Fox predation of eggs is thought to...
. Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, along with other public and private lands around Humboldt Bay, is one of the key stopovers for the millions of migratory birds that rely on the Pacific Flyway
Pacific Flyway
The Pacific Flyway is a major north-south route of travel for migratory birds in America, extending from Alaska to Patagonia. Every year, migratory birds travel some or all of this distance both in spring and in fall, following food sources, heading to breeding grounds, or travelling to...
. More than 200 bird species, including 80 kinds of water birds and four endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
, regularly feed, rest, or nest on the refuge or other areas around the bay.
Ecology
The bay provides habitat for approximately 100 species of fish, many of which contribute to sport or commercial fisheries, and provides habitat for steelhead, CohoCoho salmon
The Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or "silvers". It is the state animal of Chiba, Japan.-Description:...
, and Chinook salmon
Chinook salmon
The Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, is the largest species in the pacific salmon family. Other commonly used names for the species include King salmon, Quinnat salmon, Spring salmon and Tyee salmon...
. During the spring, the bay's eelgrass
Zostera
Zostera is a small genus of widely distributed seagrass, commonly called marine eelgrass or simply eelgrass . The genus Zostera contains sixteen species.-Ecology:Zostera is found on sandy substrates or in estuaries submerged or partially floating...
beds are a key staging area for brant prior to their return to Arctic nesting grounds; and the refuge grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
s provide important habitat for thousands of Aleutian cackling geese
Cackling Goose
The Cackling Goose is a North American bird of the genus Branta of black geese, which contains species with largely black plumage, distinguishing them from the grey Anser species....
. Like many of the refuges in the system, this one was established to preserve habitats recognized to be instrumental to the perpetual survival of migratory birds and other wildlife. Each spring, over 20,000 Aleutian cackling geese roost on the island from late January through early April. Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuge also serves as a haul out for resting marine mammals including harbor seal
Harbor Seal
The harbor seal , also known as the common seal, is a true seal found along temperate and Arctic marine coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere...
, northern elephant seal
Northern Elephant Seal
The northern elephant seal is one of two species of elephant seal . It is a member of the family Phocidae . Elephant seals derive their name from their great size and from the male's large proboscis, which is used in making extraordinarily loud roaring noises, especially during the mating...
, California sea lion
California Sea Lion
The California sea lion is a coastal sea lion of western North America. Their numbers are abundant , and the population continues to expand about 5% annually. They are quite intelligent and can adapt to man-made environments...
, and Stellar's sea lion.
Humboldt National Wildlife Refuge Complex
The refuge is the largest part of the Humboldt National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which is headquartered south of Eureka at its Loleta, CaliforniaLoleta, California
Loleta is a census-designated place in Humboldt County, California. It is located south of Fields Landing, at an elevation of 46 feet . The population was 783 at the 2010 census....
site. The "Complex" is an administrative entity that also managers the Lanphere Dunes
Lanphere Dunes
The Lanphere Dunes, a unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex, is located in Humboldt County, California. Its placement adjacent to Humboldt Bay and near the cities of Arcata and Eureka makes it easily accessible to visit...
Unit and the Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuge
Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuge
Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuge is half a mile offshore from Crescent City in northern California. This coastal rock covers approximately , and rises steeply above sea level. The refuge provides an important sanctuary for Aleutian Canada geese and nesting seabirds.It is, in fact, known as the...
. Lanphere Dunes, located on the northern seaward shore of Humboldt Bay, contains the most pristine remaining dune ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
and supports rare and representative examples of older forested dunes, young active dunes, dune swale wetlands, and coastal salt marsh. Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuge
Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuge
Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuge is half a mile offshore from Crescent City in northern California. This coastal rock covers approximately , and rises steeply above sea level. The refuge provides an important sanctuary for Aleutian Canada geese and nesting seabirds.It is, in fact, known as the...
is a 14 acres (56,656 m²) island located 80 miles (128.7 km) north of Humboldt Bay (less than 1 miles (1.6 km) off the Pacific Coast) near Crescent City
Crescent City, California
Crescent City is the county seat and only incorporated city in Del Norte County, California. Named for the crescent-shaped stretch of sandy beach south of the city, Crescent City had a total population of 7,643 in the 2010 census, up from 4,006 in the 2000 census...
. The island serves as the second-largest seabird
Seabird
Seabirds are birds that have adapted to life within the marine environment. While seabirds vary greatly in lifestyle, behaviour and physiology, they often exhibit striking convergent evolution, as the same environmental problems and feeding niches have resulted in similar adaptations...
nesting colony in California. Castle Rock Refuge has the largest breeding population of common murres in California.