A Birder’s Guide to:
Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area &
The Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Western Gull
December
January
November
A Rare View
October
The Bureau of Land Management’s Yaquina
Head Outstanding Natural Area offers a rare,
close-up look into seabird breeding colonies.
These colonies are typically remotely located
and inaccessible to the public. The seabirds
breeding at Yaquina Head, however, are
close enough to observe in detail with a pair
of binoculars and are a real viewing treat to all
bird enthusiasts.
February
When you can see
Seabirds at Yaquina Head
May & Early June: Courtship Displays
and Incubation Period
End of June & July: Chick Hatching and
Rearing Period
September
End of July & August: Chicks Fledge
and Birds Begin to Leave
March
April
May
August
July
June
Photo by Kraig Anderson
What to See
There are five seabird species and one
shorebird species that breed on the coastal
rocks, cliffs and headlands at Yaquina
Head. Brandt’s and Pelagic Cormorants
nest on the rock tops and cliff faces
respectively. Pigeon Guillemots can be
seen on the water and on cliff ledges
outside of their nest cavities, Western Gulls
stake out shallow ledges and Black
Oystercatchers can be seen perusing the
intertidal for a tasty morsel. On the
nearshore sea stacks Common Murres
cover almost every inch of exposed flat
rock. Standing on the observation deck
visitors can see at least 50,000 Common
Murres packed tightly together on Colony
Rock alone. In mid- to late May visitors also
have the rare opportunity to see the
courtship displays of Brandt’s Cormorants,
conducted on the headland a mere stone’s
throw away.
Action Throughout the Summer
While the breeding seabirds certainly steal
the show there are other sights to see at
Yaquina Head. Grey Whales often pass just
off the outer rocks and Harbor Seals can be
seen sunning themselves and resting with
their pups nearby. Flocks of California
Brown Pelicans pass overhead throughout
the summer, traveling from their breeding
grounds in California and Mexico to their
summering areas on the Oregon and
Washington coast. Bald Eagles also
frequent the area and often put on stunning
displays of disturbance when they dive into
the Common Murre colony in search of a
weak or slow moving bird. From Fall to
Spring Harlequin Ducks, Surfbirds and
Black Turnstones can be seen resting and
foraging in the intertidal zone.
Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge
The coastal rocks at Yaquina Head are part of
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s
Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. These
areas are managed as sanctuaries for seabirds
and harbor seals that use these habitats to rest
and reproduce and are closed to public access
at all times.
Common Murre
Photo by David Ledig
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Where to Find the Birds of Yaquina Head
Legend
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Lighthouse
Seabirds
Shorebirds
Bald Eagles
Harbor Seals
Br an d t' s Co r mo r an ts
Pel a gi c C o rmo r an t s
Wes ter n Gu l l s
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Co mmo n M u r r es
Pel a gi c C o rmo r an t s
Black Oystercatcher
Brandt's Cormorant
Pi g eo n Gu i l l emo n ts
Pel a gi c C o rmo r an t s
Co mmo n M u r r es
Colony Rock
Marine Garden
Bal d E agl e
Ro o st
Bl a ck Oy st er catc h er
Rocky Intertidal
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Photo by Ram Papish
Pelagic Cormorant
Har b o r S ea l s
Pigeon Guillemot
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Photo by Dave Pitkin
Photo by Dave Pitkin
Photo by Gerrit Vyn