Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex
Encyclopedia
The Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex consists of six National Wildlife Refuge
s along the Oregon Coast
. It provides wilderness protection
to thousands of small islands, rocks, reefs, headlands, marshes, and bays totaling 371 acres (150 ha) spanning 320 miles (515 km) of Oregon
's coastline. The areas are all managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
.
The six National Wildlife Refuges—three marine, and three estuarine—are from Tillamook Head
south to the California
-Oregon border. The marine refuges are Three Arch Rocks
, Oregon Islands
, and Cape Meares
. The estuarine are Bandon Marsh
, Nestucca Bay
, and Siletz Bay
. Except for Tillamook Rock Light
and its surrounding 1 acres (4,046.9 m²) rock, all the islands are closed to public access. Boats must remain at least 500 ft (150 m) away, and aircraft must maintain at least 2000 ft (609.6 m) clearance.
was the first National Wildlife Refuge west of the Mississippi River
. The refuge has provided protection for Oregon
's largest seabird
nesting colony of more 230,000 birds since October 14, 1907.
Three Arch Rocks consists of 15 acres (6 ha) in three large and six small rocks located about a half mile (1 km) offshore from Oceanside
. It is one of the smallest designated wilderness areas
in the U.S., but features the largest colony of breeding Tufted Puffin
s and the largest Common Murre colony south of Alaska. It is the only northern Oregon pupping site for the threatened Steller Sea Lion.
after being persuaded by two young conservationists—William L. Finley
and Herman Bohlman—who studied and photographed Three Arch Rocks from Oceanside beginning in 1901. They recorded hunters killing dozens of sea lions at a time for skin and oil, and sportsmen shooting seabirds purely for sport. Due to a scarcity of regional chicken farms at the time, seabird eggs were priced at up to a dollar per dozen, encouraging egg harvesting and reducing the bird colony population. Finley and Bohlman suggested a wildlife refuge to Roosevelt for protecting dwindling populations and ensure survival of seabird and marine mammal populations. Roosevelt declared the refuge in 1907.
Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge provides Wilderness Act protection
to 1,853 small islands, rocks, and reefs plus two headlands, totaling 371 acres (150 ha) spanning 320 miles (515 km) of Oregon
's coastline from the Oregon-California border to Tillamook Head
.
off Cannon Beach
was added to the refuge in 1968, and then became a wilderness area in 1978. The first mainland addition to the refuge came in 1991 when Coquille Point near Bandon was added. In 1999, the shipwreck of the New Carissa
near Coos Bay spilled oil that killed off some birds at the refuge.
s of thirteen species—some of the most important nesting seabird colonies in the U.S. Over 1.2 million individuals nest in colonies here, more than on the California
and Washington coasts combined. The most prevalent species are black-and-white common Murres, Tufted Puffin
s, Rhinoceros
and Cassin's Auklet
s, Pigeon Guillemot
s, Leach's Storm-petrel
s, several species of gull
s, and Caspian Tern
s.
Four species of pinniped
breed, molt, and rest on these lands, including harbor seal
s, Steller and California Sea Lion
s. The southern portion of the refuge provides the greatest number of breeding and pupping sites for Steller sea lions in the U.S. outside Alaska
.
Except for Tillamook Rock Light
and its surrounding 1 acres (4,046.9 m²) rock, all the islands are closed to public access. Boats must remain at least 500 ft (150 m) away, and aircraft must maintain at least 2000 ft (609.6 m) clearance. However, good viewing is possible from Coquille Point in Bandon
and other locations suggested by the Oregon Coast Birding Trail.
s.
This Oregon
refuge set on Cape Meares
has provided protection since 1938 for Sitka Spruce
and Western Hemlock
, some more than 200 feet (60 m) tall and hundreds of years old. The conditions are ideal habitat for several threatened bird species, including Bald Eagle
s and Peregrine Falcon
s—the latter once at the brink of extinction. A pair of Peregrine Falcons has resided here since 1987.
The Oregon Coast Trail
passes through the center of this headland
refuge where interpretive displays describe its many inhabitants. It is possible to see migrating Gray Whale
s, three types of scoter
, Western Grebe
, and Common Loons. A wildlife viewing deck provides a seasonal view into the aerie of a falcon
pair.
Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge
and Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge
are easily seen from the cape. Also, Cape Meares Light
, and an Oregon state park are adjacent.
, and Mongolian Plover.
Last expanded in 1999, it now has 889 acres (360 ha) in two units: Bandon Marsh and Ni-les'tun.
Bandon Marsh is popular for hunting, fishing, clamming, birding and photography.
The refuge protects the largest tidal salt marsh
in the Coquille River
estuary.
The mudflats are rich in clam
, crab
, worm
, and shrimp
and attracts migrating shorebirds, waterfowl, Coho Salmon
, as well as the endangered California Brown Pelican.
More common shorebird species include Western and Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover
, Black-bellied Plover, Pacific Golden Plover
, Red Phalarope
, Whimbrel
, Dunlin
.
The Ni-les'tun unit is a habitat restoration project which will eventually benefit fish and wildlife. In consists of intertidal and freshwater marsh, and riparian land. It also protects a 4,500 year-old Native American archaeological site of the Coquille Indian Tribe
.
There are several overlooks, as well as access for hunters, birders, fisherman, and clammers. State and federal regulations are in effect.
The Marsh is located just north of Bandon
, on the east side of the Coquille river across from Bullards Beach State Park
.
bog habitat on the Pacific Coast.
The Sphagnum bog provides habitat for many interesting and unusual species, such as the insect-eating Sundew
plant and the bog cranberry
. Scientists have discovered many layers of sand and peat under Neskowin Marsh indicating a long history of tsunami
activity which carries sand from the coastal sand dunes. These might be the best record of tsunami activity within the Cascadia subduction zone
.
The refuge was established in 1991, and is located on Nestucca Bay
at the confluence of the Nestucca
and Little Nestucca
rivers, ranging 3 to 5 miles (5 to 8 km) south of Pacific City
. Across the bay to the west is Nestucca Spit and Robert W. Straub state parks.
The refuge is closed to all public use, except during two special events: one in February and one in October. A viewing area is planned for construction, probably in 2008.
(which runs through the refuge) from the time when the salt marsh was diked. Red-tailed Hawk
s and Bald Eagle
s are often visible roosting on these snags. Abundant Great Blue Heron
and Great Egret
live nearby.
The refuge is located on Siletz Bay, immediately south of Lincoln City
where the Siletz River
enters the bay. It is closed to all public use, except during special events.
National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge is a designation for certain protected areas of the United States managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge System is the world's premiere system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife and plants...
s along the Oregon Coast
Oregon Coast
The Oregon Coast is a region of the U.S. state of Oregon. It runs generally north-south along the Pacific Ocean, forming the western border of the state; the region is bounded to the east by the Oregon Coast Range. The Oregon Coast stretches approximately from the Columbia River in the north to...
. It provides wilderness protection
Wilderness Act
The Wilderness Act of 1964 was written by Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society. It created the legal definition of wilderness in the United States, and protected some 9 million acres of federal land. The result of a long effort to protect federal wilderness, the Wilderness Act was signed...
to thousands of small islands, rocks, reefs, headlands, marshes, and bays totaling 371 acres (150 ha) spanning 320 miles (515 km) of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
's coastline. The areas are all managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
.
The six National Wildlife Refuges—three marine, and three estuarine—are from Tillamook Head
Tillamook Head
Tillamook Head is a high promontory on the Pacific coast of northwest Oregon in the United States. It is located in west-central Clatsop County, approximately 5 mi southwest of Seaside. The promontory forms a steep rocky bluff on the ocean, approximately 1,200 ft high, forested with...
south to 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...
-Oregon border. The marine refuges are Three Arch Rocks
Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge
Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge is a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge off the northern Oregon Coast. It is located on the central coast of Tillamook County, in the northwestern part of Oregon. It is one of six National Wildlife Refuges within the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex...
, Oregon Islands
Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge is a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge off the southwestern Oregon Coast. It is one of six National Wildlife Refuges comprising the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex...
, and Cape Meares
Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge
Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge on the Oregon coast. It is one of six National Wildlife Refuges in the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Located on Cape Meares, the refuge was established in 1938 to protect a remnant of coastal old-growth forest and...
. The estuarine are Bandon Marsh
Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge
Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge is a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge on Oregon's coast. It is one of six National Wildlife Refuges comprising the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex and is renowned among bird watchers for being able to view rare shorebirds including Ruff, Hudsonian...
, Nestucca Bay
Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge on Oregon's coast. It is located in southern Tillamook County, on the state's northern coast. It is one of six National Wildlife Refuges comprising the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex and supports one tenth of...
, and Siletz Bay
Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge on Oregon's coast. It is one of six National Wildlife Refuges comprising the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The refuge consists of several discontinuous tracts north and south of the Siletz River where it enters...
. Except for Tillamook Rock Light
Tillamook Rock Light
Tillamook Rock Light is a deactivated lighthouse on the Oregon Coast of the United States. It is located approximately offshore from Tillamook Head, and south of the Columbia River, situated on less than acre of basalt rock in the Pacific Ocean. The construction of the lighthouse was commissioned...
and its surrounding 1 acres (4,046.9 m²) rock, all the islands are closed to public access. Boats must remain at least 500 ft (150 m) away, and aircraft must maintain at least 2000 ft (609.6 m) clearance.
Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge
Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife RefugeThree Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge
Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge is a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge off the northern Oregon Coast. It is located on the central coast of Tillamook County, in the northwestern part of Oregon. It is one of six National Wildlife Refuges within the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex...
was the first National Wildlife Refuge west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. The refuge has provided protection for Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
's 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 of more 230,000 birds since October 14, 1907.
Three Arch Rocks consists of 15 acres (6 ha) in three large and six small rocks located about a half mile (1 km) offshore from Oceanside
Oceanside, Oregon
Oceanside is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Tillamook County, Oregon, United States. The population was 326 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
. It is one of the smallest designated wilderness areas
Wilderness Act
The Wilderness Act of 1964 was written by Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society. It created the legal definition of wilderness in the United States, and protected some 9 million acres of federal land. The result of a long effort to protect federal wilderness, the Wilderness Act was signed...
in the U.S., but features the largest colony of breeding Tufted Puffin
Tufted Puffin
The Tufted Puffin also known as Crested Puffin, is a relatively abundant medium-sized pelagic seabird in the auk family found throughout the North Pacific Ocean....
s and the largest Common Murre colony south of Alaska. It is the only northern Oregon pupping site for the threatened Steller Sea Lion.
History
The refuge was established by President Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
after being persuaded by two young conservationists—William L. Finley
William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge
William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge is a natural area in the Willamette Valley in Oregon, United States. It was created to provide wintering habitat for Dusky Canada Geese. Unlike other Canada Geese, Dusky Canada Geese have limited summer and winter ranges. They nest on Alaska's Copper River...
and Herman Bohlman—who studied and photographed Three Arch Rocks from Oceanside beginning in 1901. They recorded hunters killing dozens of sea lions at a time for skin and oil, and sportsmen shooting seabirds purely for sport. Due to a scarcity of regional chicken farms at the time, seabird eggs were priced at up to a dollar per dozen, encouraging egg harvesting and reducing the bird colony population. Finley and Bohlman suggested a wildlife refuge to Roosevelt for protecting dwindling populations and ensure survival of seabird and marine mammal populations. Roosevelt declared the refuge in 1907.
Access
The islands are closed to public access. Boats must remain at least 500 feet (150 m) away during summer months, and aircraft must maintain at least 2000 ft (609.6 m) clearance.Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge provides Wilderness Act protection
Wilderness Act
The Wilderness Act of 1964 was written by Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society. It created the legal definition of wilderness in the United States, and protected some 9 million acres of federal land. The result of a long effort to protect federal wilderness, the Wilderness Act was signed...
to 1,853 small islands, rocks, and reefs plus two headlands, totaling 371 acres (150 ha) spanning 320 miles (515 km) of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
's coastline from the Oregon-California border to Tillamook Head
Tillamook Head
Tillamook Head is a high promontory on the Pacific coast of northwest Oregon in the United States. It is located in west-central Clatsop County, approximately 5 mi southwest of Seaside. The promontory forms a steep rocky bluff on the ocean, approximately 1,200 ft high, forested with...
.
History
The Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge was created in 1935 by the federal government. Haystack RockHaystack Rock
Haystack Rock is a 235-foot sea stack in Cannon Beach, Oregon. It is sometimes claimed locally to be the third-tallest such "intertidal" structure in the world, but there are no scientific references to support this. A popular tourist destination, the monolithic rock is adjacent to the beach and...
off Cannon Beach
Cannon Beach, Oregon
Cannon Beach is a city in Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,588 as of the 2000 census. The 2007 estimate is 1,680 residents.- History :...
was added to the refuge in 1968, and then became a wilderness area in 1978. The first mainland addition to the refuge came in 1991 when Coquille Point near Bandon was added. In 1999, the shipwreck of the New Carissa
New Carissa
The M/V New Carissa was a freighter that ran aground on a beach near Coos Bay, Oregon, United States, during a storm in February 1999, and subsequently broke apart. An attempt to tow the bow section of the ship out to sea failed when the tow line broke, and the bow was grounded again. Eventually,...
near Coos Bay spilled oil that killed off some birds at the refuge.
Wildlife and access
It is a sanctuary for nesting seabirdSeabird
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...
s of thirteen species—some of the most important nesting seabird colonies in the U.S. Over 1.2 million individuals nest in colonies here, more than 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...
and Washington coasts combined. The most prevalent species are black-and-white common Murres, Tufted Puffin
Tufted Puffin
The Tufted Puffin also known as Crested Puffin, is a relatively abundant medium-sized pelagic seabird in the auk family found throughout the North Pacific Ocean....
s, Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros Auklet
The Rhinoceros Auklet is a seabird and a close relative of the puffins. It is the only living species of the genus Cerorhinca. Given its close relationship with the puffins, the common name Rhinoceros Puffin has been proposed for the species.It ranges widely across the North Pacific, feeding on...
and Cassin's Auklet
Cassin's Auklet
The Cassin’s Auklet is a small, chunky seabird that ranges widely in the North Pacific. It nests in small burrows and because of its presence on well studied islands in British Columbia and off California it is one of the better known auks...
s, Pigeon Guillemot
Pigeon Guillemot
The Pigeon Guillemot is a medium-sized alcid endemic to the Pacific. They closely resemble the other members of the genus Cepphus, particularly the Black Guillemot, which is slightly smaller....
s, Leach's Storm-petrel
Leach's Storm-petrel
The Leach's Storm Petrel or Leach's Petrel is a small seabird of the tubenose family. It is named after the British zoologist William Elford Leach....
s, several species of gull
Gull
Gulls are birds in the family Laridae. They are most closely related to the terns and only distantly related to auks, skimmers, and more distantly to the waders...
s, and Caspian Tern
Caspian Tern
The Caspian Tern is a species of tern, with a subcosmopolitan but scattered distribution. Despite its extensive range, it is monotypic of its genus, and has no subspecies accepted either...
s.
Four species of pinniped
Pinniped
Pinnipeds or fin-footed mammals are a widely distributed and diverse group of semiaquatic marine mammals comprising the families Odobenidae , Otariidae , and Phocidae .-Overview: Pinnipeds are typically sleek-bodied and barrel-shaped...
breed, molt, and rest on these lands, 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...
s, Steller and 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...
s. The southern portion of the refuge provides the greatest number of breeding and pupping sites for Steller sea lions in the U.S. outside Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
.
Except for Tillamook Rock Light
Tillamook Rock Light
Tillamook Rock Light is a deactivated lighthouse on the Oregon Coast of the United States. It is located approximately offshore from Tillamook Head, and south of the Columbia River, situated on less than acre of basalt rock in the Pacific Ocean. The construction of the lighthouse was commissioned...
and its surrounding 1 acres (4,046.9 m²) rock, all the islands are closed to public access. Boats must remain at least 500 ft (150 m) away, and aircraft must maintain at least 2000 ft (609.6 m) clearance. However, good viewing is possible from Coquille Point in Bandon
Bandon, Oregon
- Economy :Like many communities on the Oregon coast, Bandon had significant fishing and timber industries, which were greatly diminished by the 1980s, though some remnants still exist. Bandon's current economy revolves around wood products, fishing, tourism, and agriculture...
and other locations suggested by the Oregon Coast Birding Trail.
Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge
Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge protects one of the last remaining coastal old growth forestOld growth forest
An old-growth forest is a forest that has attained great age , and thereby exhibits unique ecological features. An old growth forest has also usually reached a climax community...
s.
This Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
refuge set on Cape Meares
Cape Meares
Cape Meares is a small headland on the Pacific coast in Tillamook County, Oregon, United States. The cape forms a high steep bluff on the south end of Tillamook Bay, approximately five miles northwest of the city of Tillamook...
has provided protection since 1938 for Sitka Spruce
Sitka Spruce
Picea sitchensis, the Sitka Spruce, is a large coniferous evergreen tree growing to 50–70 m tall, exceptionally to 95 m tall, and with a trunk diameter of up to 5 m, exceptionally to 6–7 m diameter...
and Western Hemlock
Western Hemlock
Tsuga heterophylla. the Western Hemlock, is a species of hemlock native to the west coast of North America, with its northwestern limit on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, and its southeastern limit in northern Sonoma County, California.-Habitat:...
, some more than 200 feet (60 m) tall and hundreds of years old. The conditions are ideal habitat for several threatened bird species, including Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
s and Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...
s—the latter once at the brink of extinction. A pair of Peregrine Falcons has resided here since 1987.
The Oregon Coast Trail
Oregon Coast Trail
The Oregon Coast Trail is a long-distance hiking route along the Pacific coast of Oregon in the United States. It follows the coast of Oregon from the mouth of the Columbia River to the California border south of Brookings....
passes through the center of this headland
Headlands and bays
Headlands and bays are two related features of the coastal environment.- Geology and geography :Headlands and bays are often found on the same coastline. A bay is surrounded by land on three sides, whereas a headland is surrounded by water on three sides. Headlands are characterized by high,...
refuge where interpretive displays describe its many inhabitants. It is possible to see migrating Gray Whale
Gray Whale
The gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus, is a baleen whale that migrates between feeding and breeding grounds yearly. It reaches a length of about , a weight of , and lives 50–70 years. The common name of the whale comes from the gray patches and white mottling on its dark skin. Gray whales were...
s, three types of scoter
Scoter
The scoters are stocky seaducks in the genus Melanitta. The drakes are mostly black and have swollen bills. Females are brown.They breed in the far north of Europe, Asia and North America, and winter further south in temperate zones of those continents. They form large flocks on suitable coastal...
, Western Grebe
Western Grebe
The Western Grebe, , is a species in the grebe family of water birds. Folk names include "dabchick", "swan grebe" and "swan-necked grebe"....
, and Common Loons. A wildlife viewing deck provides a seasonal view into the aerie of a falcon
Falcon
A falcon is any species of raptor in the genus Falco. The genus contains 37 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America....
pair.
Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge
Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge
Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge is a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge off the northern Oregon Coast. It is located on the central coast of Tillamook County, in the northwestern part of Oregon. It is one of six National Wildlife Refuges within the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex...
and Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge is a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge off the southwestern Oregon Coast. It is one of six National Wildlife Refuges comprising the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex...
are easily seen from the cape. Also, Cape Meares Light
Cape Meares Light
The Cape Meares Light is an inactive lighthouse on the coast of Oregon. It is located on Cape Meares just south of Tillamook Bay. It is open to the public.-History:Built in 1890, Cape Meares Light served as the light station for Tillamook Bay...
, and an Oregon state park are adjacent.
Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge
Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge is renowned among bird watchers for being able to view rare shorebirds including Ruff, Hudsonian GodwitHudsonian Godwit
The Hudsonian Godwit, Limosa haemastica, is a large shorebird.-Identification:Adults have long dark legs and a long pink bill with a slight upward curve and dark at the tip. The upper parts are mottled brown and the underparts are chestnut. The tail is black and the rump is white...
, and Mongolian Plover.
Last expanded in 1999, it now has 889 acres (360 ha) in two units: Bandon Marsh and Ni-les'tun.
Bandon Marsh is popular for hunting, fishing, clamming, birding and photography.
The refuge protects the largest tidal salt marsh
Salt marsh
A salt marsh is an environment in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and salt water or brackish water, it is dominated by dense stands of halophytic plants such as herbs, grasses, or low shrubs. These plants are terrestrial in origin and are essential to the stability of the salt marsh...
in the Coquille River
Coquille River
The Coquille River is a stream long, in southwestern Oregon in the United States. It drains a mountainous area of of the Southern Oregon Coast Range into the Pacific Ocean. Its watershed is located between that of the Coos River to the north and the Rogue River to the south.-Geography:The river,...
estuary.
The mudflats are rich in clam
Clam
The word "clam" can be applied to freshwater mussels, and other freshwater bivalves, as well as marine bivalves.In the United States, "clam" can be used in several different ways: one, as a general term covering all bivalve molluscs...
, crab
Crab
True crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder Brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" , or where the reduced abdomen is entirely hidden under the thorax...
, worm
Worm
The term worm refers to an obsolete taxon used by Carolus Linnaeus and Jean-Baptiste Lamarck for all non-arthropod invertebrate animals, and stems from the Old English word wyrm. Currently it is used to describe many different distantly-related animals that typically have a long cylindrical...
, and shrimp
Shrimp
Shrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Adult shrimp are filter feeding benthic animals living close to the bottom. They can live in schools and can swim rapidly backwards. Shrimp are an important...
and attracts migrating shorebirds, waterfowl, Coho Salmon
Coho 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:...
, as well as the endangered California Brown Pelican.
More common shorebird species include Western and Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover
Semipalmated Plover
The Semipalmated Plover is a small plover.This species weighs and measures in length and across the wings. Adults have a grey-brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with one black neckband...
, Black-bellied Plover, Pacific Golden Plover
Pacific Golden Plover
The Pacific Golden Plover is a medium-sized plover.The 23–26 cm long breeding adult is spotted gold and black on the crown, back and wings. Its face and neck are black with a white border and it has a black breast and a dark rump. The legs are black...
, Red Phalarope
Red Phalarope
The Red Phalarope , Phalaropus fulicarius, is a small wader. This phalarope breeds in the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia...
, Whimbrel
Whimbrel
The Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus, is a wader in the large family Scolopacidae. It is one of the mostwidespread of the curlews, breeding across much of subarctic North America, Europe and Asia as far south as Scotland....
, Dunlin
Dunlin
The Dunlin, Calidris alpina, is a small wader, sometimes separated with the other "stints" in Erolia. It is a circumpolar breeder in Arctic or subarctic regions. Birds that breed in northern Europe and Asia are long-distance migrants, wintering south to Africa, southeast Asia and the Middle East...
.
The Ni-les'tun unit is a habitat restoration project which will eventually benefit fish and wildlife. In consists of intertidal and freshwater marsh, and riparian land. It also protects a 4,500 year-old Native American archaeological site of the Coquille Indian Tribe
Coquille Indian Tribe
The Coquille Indian Tribe is the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs-recognized Native American tribal entity of the Coquille people, who have traditionally lived on the southern Oregon Coast.-Treaty with the United States:...
.
There are several overlooks, as well as access for hunters, birders, fisherman, and clammers. State and federal regulations are in effect.
The Marsh is located just north of Bandon
Bandon, Oregon
- Economy :Like many communities on the Oregon coast, Bandon had significant fishing and timber industries, which were greatly diminished by the 1980s, though some remnants still exist. Bandon's current economy revolves around wood products, fishing, tourism, and agriculture...
, on the east side of the Coquille river across from Bullards Beach State Park
Bullards Beach State Park
Bullards Beach State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Oregon, administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department....
.
Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge supports one tenth of the world's Dusky Canada Goose population. The refuge contains at least seven types of habitat, including tidal marsh, tidal mudflats, grassland, woodland, pasture, forested lagg—a transition between raised peat bog and mineral soil—and freshwater bogs, including the southernmost coastal SphagnumSphagnum
Sphagnum is a genus of between 151 and 350 species of mosses commonly called peat moss, due to its prevalence in peat bogs and mires. A distinction is made between sphagnum moss, the live moss growing on top of a peat bog on one hand, and sphagnum peat moss or sphagnum peat on the other, the...
bog habitat on the Pacific Coast.
The Sphagnum bog provides habitat for many interesting and unusual species, such as the insect-eating Sundew
Sundew
Drosera, commonly known as the sundews, comprise one of the largest genera of carnivorous plants, with at least 194 species. These members of the family Droseraceae lure, capture, and digest insects using stalked mucilaginous glands covering their leaf surface. The insects are used to supplement...
plant and the bog cranberry
Cranberry
Cranberries are a group of evergreen dwarf shrubs or trailing vines in the subgenus Oxycoccus of the genus Vaccinium. In some methods of classification, Oxycoccus is regarded as a genus in its own right...
. Scientists have discovered many layers of sand and peat under Neskowin Marsh indicating a long history of tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
activity which carries sand from the coastal sand dunes. These might be the best record of tsunami activity within the Cascadia subduction zone
Cascadia subduction zone
The Cascadia subduction zone is a subduction zone, a type of convergent plate boundary that stretches from northern Vancouver Island to northern California. It is a very long sloping fault that separates the Juan de Fuca and North America plates.New ocean floor is being created offshore of...
.
The refuge was established in 1991, and is located on Nestucca Bay
Nestucca Bay
Nestucca Bay is a small S-shaped inlet of the Pacific Ocean located in northwest Oregon in the United States. It is located near the town of Pacific City in southwestern Tillamook County, approximately 12 mi south of Cape Lookout. The Nestucca and Little Nestucca rivers enter the bay from the...
at the confluence of the Nestucca
Nestucca River
The Nestucca River flows for about through forests near the Pacific coast of northwest Oregon in the United States. It drains a timber-producing area of the Northern Oregon Coast Range west of Portland....
and Little Nestucca
Little Nestucca River
The Little Nestucca River is a river, approximately 20 mi long, on the Pacific coast of northwest Oregon in the United States. It drains an area of the Central Oregon Coast Range west of the Willamette Valley....
rivers, ranging 3 to 5 miles (5 to 8 km) south of Pacific City
Pacific City, Oregon
Pacific City is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Tillamook County, Oregon, United States. The population was 1,027 at the 2000 census...
. Across the bay to the west is Nestucca Spit and Robert W. Straub state parks.
The refuge is closed to all public use, except during two special events: one in February and one in October. A viewing area is planned for construction, probably in 2008.
Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1991 primarily to return salt marsh to its natural state. Formerly it had been diked and crossed with ditches to create pasture for dairy cow grazing. More than 9,300 ft (2.8 km) of dikes were removed and a quarter mile (500 m) of ditch were filled to initiate restoration. Salt-starched skeleton trees are visible along both sides of U.S. Route 101U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101, or U.S. Highway 101, is an important north–south U.S. highway that runs through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, on the West Coast of the United States...
(which runs through the refuge) from the time when the salt marsh was diked. Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
The Red-tailed Hawk is a bird of prey, one of three species colloquially known in the United States as the "chickenhawk," though it rarely preys on standard sized chickens. It breeds throughout most of North America, from western Alaska and northern Canada to as far south as Panama and the West...
s and Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
s are often visible roosting on these snags. Abundant Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
The Great Blue Heron is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North and Central America as well as the West Indies and the Galápagos Islands. It is a rare vagrant to Europe, with records from Spain, the Azores and England...
and Great Egret
Great Egret
The Great Egret , also known as the Great White Egret or Common Egret, White Heron, or Great White Heron, is a large, widely-distributed egret. Distributed across most of the tropical and warmer temperate regions of the world, in southern Europe it is rather localized...
live nearby.
The refuge is located on Siletz Bay, immediately south of Lincoln City
Lincoln City, Oregon
Lincoln City is a city in Lincoln County, Oregon, United States. It is named after the county. The population was 7,930 at the 2010 census.- History :...
where the Siletz River
Siletz River
The Siletz River flows about to the Pacific Ocean through coastal mountains in the U.S. state of Oregon. Formed by the confluence of its north and south forks near Valsetz in Polk County, it winds through the Central Oregon Coast Range. The river, draining a watershed of , empties into Siletz Bay,...
enters the bay. It is closed to all public use, except during special events.
See also
- Pacific FlywayPacific FlywayThe 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...
- Important Bird AreaImportant Bird AreaAn Important Bird Area is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International...
- List of National Wildlife Refuges#Oregon