Northern Pacific Rainforest

Description: The coastal rainforest stretches from the western Gulf of Alaska south through British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest to northern California. Its maritime climate is characterized by heavy precipitation and mild temperatures. The region is dominated by forests of western hemlock and Sitka spruce in the far north, with balsam fir, Douglas fir, and coast redwood becoming more important farther south. Broadleaf forests are found along large mainland river drainages. High priority breeding forest birds include the Spotted Owl, Marbled Murrelet, Northern Goshawk, Chestnutbacked Chickadee, Red-breasted Sapsucker, and Hermit Warbler. The coast of the Northern Pacific Rainforest is characterized by river deltas and pockets of estuarine and freshwater wetlands set within steep, rocky shorelines. These wetlands provide critical breeding, wintering, and migration habitat for internationally significant populations of waterfowl and other wetland-dependent species. The area includes major stopover sites for migrating shorebirds, especially Western Sandpipers and Dunlins. Black Oystercatchers, Rock Sandpipers, Black Turnstones, and Surfbirds arecommon wintering species. nearshore marine areas support many breeding and wintering sea ducks. Many seabirds breed on offshore islands, including important populations of Ancient Murrelet, Rhinoceros Auklet, Tufted Puffin, Common Murre, Western and Glaucous-winged Gull, and Leach’s Storm-Petrel. Pelagic waters provide habitat for large numbers of shearwaters, storm-petrels, alcids, and Black-footed Albatross.

Bird Conservation Plans
Landbirds - Oregon/Washington, California, Alaska
Shorebirds - Alaska Planning Region, Northern Pacific Coast Region
Waterbirds - Pacific Coast Region
Waterfowl - Pacific Coast Area
All Birds -

Joint Venture area: Pacific Coast
Carey Smith, JV Coordinator - U.S.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
9317 NE Highway 99, Suite D
Vancouver, WA 98665

Laura Maclean, JV Coordinator - Canada
Environment Canada
Pacific and Yukon Region
201 - 401 Burrard St.
Vancouver, BC V6C 3S5

Ron LeValley, PCJV- California Coordinator
920 Samoa Boulevard, Suite 210
Arcata, CA 95521

Bruce Taylor, PCJV - Oregon Coordinator
1880 Willamette Falls Drive, Suite200
West Linn OR 97068

Joe La Tourrette, PCJV - Washington Coordinator
120 State Ave. #1175
Olympia, WA 98501-8212

Jane Rubey, PCJV Hawaii Coordinator
75-5719B Old Mamalahoa Hwy
Holualoa, HI 96725

Marilyn (Lynn) Fuller, PCJV Alaska Coordinator
P.O. Box 1814
Palmer, AK 99645

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