Managing Wildlife Populations
Marbled Murrelet Captures: Biologist Murphie assisted the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife marine bird research team with their at-sea murrelet capture efforts. Samples collected at capture will provide information on the diet of these small sea birds. For this effort, the team was working near Port Townsend and Smith Island.
To catch these birds, capture teams drive small, rigid-hull, inflatable boats around at night using spotlights to find marbled or ancient murrelets. Once found, the boat maneuvers close enough to the marbled murrelet so that a crew member can catch them with a salmon-landing net. Biologist Murphie reported the team caught two ancient and three marbled murrelets on the nights he participated. Additional efforts continue.
Conserving Natural Landscapes
Forest Health Planning: Wildlife Area Manager Laushman visited the Tarboo Unit of the North Olympic Wildlife Area with Forest Specialists Tveten and Nequette and a student researcher from Green River College to plan upcoming survey work for forest health improvements in the unit.
Nisqually Fence: Technician Norris added to the fence line along an eroding shore at the Nisqually Unit to improve public safety in the area.
South Puget Sound Cleanup: Members of the Clover Park Rotary Club and local Eagle Scouts helped clean up brush piles at the South Puget Sound Unit in Lakewood, consolidating them into an area where they can more readily decompose. This will allow space for prairie restoration.
Conducting Business Operations and Policy
Safety Stand-up: Biologist Murphie participated in several activities associated with the agency-wide safety stand-up effort.