Northern
Pacific Rainforest
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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, Chestnut-backed 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 are
common 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.
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