BCR 5 - Northern Pacific Rainforest
The coastal rainforest stretches from the western Gulf of Alaska all the way 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.
ABC-designated Globally Important Bird Areas in
this BCR
Arcata Marsh
Bodega Bay
Coos Bay, including Coos Bay District BLM
Copalis National Wildlife Refuge (Washington Island National Wildlife Refuge)
Copper River Delta and North Montague Island (Chugach National Forest)
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge
East Park Reservoir
East Sand and Rice Islands in the Columbia River Estuary
Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Flattery Rocks National Wildlife Refuge (Washington Island National Wildlife Refuge)
Glacier Bay National Park
Grays Harbor National Wildlife Refuge
Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex including Klamath Marsh and Upper Klamath National Wildlife Refuge
Klamath National Forest
Medford District of the Bureau of Land Management
Misty Fjords National Monument (Tongass National Forest)
Mount Hood National Forest
Olympic National Park and National Forest
Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area
Padilla Bay National Estaurine Research Reserve
Quillayute Needles National Wildlife Refuge (Washington Island National Wildlife Refuge)
Roseburg District of the Bureau of Land Management
Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Siuslaw National Forest
Tillamook Bay, Umpqua National Forest
Wenatchee National Forest
Willamette National Forest
Willapa National Wildlife Refuge
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