Murre Return to Channel Islands

This summer, scientists witnessed the hatching of a California common murre on small islet off of San Miguel Island, the first time that this seabird has reproduced on the Channel Islands since 1912. Though common to other parts of California, the colony on Prince Island disappeared due to egg harvesting and other human impacts, say scientists like Josh Adams of the U.S. Geological Survey, who spotted the birds on 100-foot-high cliffs with some colleagues. “This is an exciting finding,” he said. “certainly a historic one.” Altogether, 13 species of seabirds nest on the windswept Prince Island, making it one of the most densely diverse habitats on the West Coast of North America.