Ten Things to Know About Del Norte Birds

1. As of March 2007 there are 422 recorded species of birds.
2. Lake Earl Coastal Lagoon is the largest estuarine lagoon (mixture of salt and fresh water) outside of Alaska and has recorded more that 300 resident and migratory bird species.
3. Just by being on the coast, Lake Earl Coastal Lagoon is a major stopover on the Pacific Flyway
4. There are more birds in the county than 18 entire U.S. and 9 Canadian Provinces.
5. Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuge is home to the second largest seabird colony in the State (after the Farralon Islands) and the third largest in the nation. Over 80,000 Common Murre nest here as well as (in order of numbers) Leach’s Storm-Petrel, Cassin’s Auklet, Brandt’s Cormorant, Western Gull, Pigeon Guillemot, Pelagic Cormorant, Rhinoceros Auklet, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, Black Oyster-catcher, and Tufted Puffin.
6. False Klamath Rock is the 5^th largest seabird colony in the U.S. with over 25,000 nesting Common Murre, as well as gulls and cormorants.
7. Redwood National and State Parks hosts the largest concentration of nesting Marbeled Murrelet in the nation outside of Alaska.
8. Three species of Cormorant are found in Del Norte County; Pelagic, Brandt’s, Double-crested.
9. Gone from area for over four decades, several resident Bald Eagles have returned and are now nesting in the county.
10. American Dipper is an indicator of healthy and clear streams and is commonly found in creeks throughout the county.