Custom Species Lists
The following list is based on a compilation by Gaydos and Pearson (2011), first published in Northwestern Naturalist no. 92 (2011): 79-94. The authors write that the list “serves as a foundation for determining the occurrence of new species and the disappearance of others, enables selection of species as indicators for ecosystem health, and also provides a basis for identifying the mechanisms responsible for marine bird and mammal declines.” The Salish Sea is defined as the coastal zone including Puget Sound, the Strait of Georgia, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and covers 16,925 km2 from Olympia, WA to Campbell River, in British Columbia.
The species on this list were identified using sighting and stranding data and scientific surveys, including the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Puget Sound Ambient Monitoring Program (PSAMP) and the British Columbia Coastal Waterbird Survey. The list includes species that reside in the Salish Sea year-round as well as species that are rarely found there but depend on the marine ecosystem. For example, the savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) nests in salt marsh habitat.
The researchers found that of the 172 bird and 37 mammal species they identified, 42% of birds and 78% of mammals are highly dependent on the marine ecosystem. This means that the remaining 58% of birds and 22% of mammals rely on both the terrestrial and marine ecosystems, and it is crucial for restoration efforts to consider how closely those ecosystems are intertwined. Ongoing documentation, the scientists added, will surely result in additional species being included on this list, which should be considered a starting point rather than a comprehensive summary.
Source: Gaydos, Joseph, and Scott Pearson. Birds and Mammals that Depend on the Salish Sea: A Compilation. Northwestern Naturalist no. 92 (2011): 79-94.
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Ruddy Duck
(Oxyura jamaicensis) -
Ruddy Duck
(Oxyura jamaicensis) -
Ruddy Turnstone
(Arenaria interpres) -
Ruddy Turnstone
(Arenaria interpres) -
Ruddy Turnstone
(Arenaria interpres) -
Ruff
(Philomachus pugnax) -
Ruff
(Philomachus pugnax) -
Ruffed Grouse
(Bonasa umbellus) -
Ruffed Grouse
(Bonasa umbellus) -
Rufous Hummingbird
(Selasphorus rufus) -
Rufous Hummingbird
(Selasphorus rufus) -
Rusty Blackbird
(Euphagus carolinus) -
Sabine's Gull
(Xema sabini) -
Sabine's Gull
(Xema sabini) -
Sage Sparrow
(Amphispiza belli) -
Sage Sparrow
(Amphispiza belli) -
Sage Sparrow
(Amphispiza belli) -
Sage Thrasher
(Oreoscoptes montanus) -
Sage Thrasher
(Oreoscoptes montanus) -
Sage Thrasher
(Oreoscoptes montanus) -
Sanderling
(Calidris alba) -
Sanderling
(Calidris alba) -
Sanderling
(Calidris alba) -
Sandhill Crane
(Grus canadensis) -
Sandhill Crane
(Grus canadensis) -
Sandhill Crane
(Grus canadensis) -
Sandhill Crane
(Grus canadensis) -
Sandhill Crane
(Grus canadensis) -
Savannah Sparrow
(Passerculus sandwichensis) -
Savannah Sparrow
(Passerculus sandwichensis) -
Savannah Sparrow
(Passerculus sandwichensis) -
Say's Phoebe
(Sayornis saya) -
Say's Phoebe
(Sayornis saya) -
Semipalmated Plover
(Charadrius semipalmatus) -
Semipalmated Plover
(Charadrius semipalmatus) -
Semipalmated Sandpiper
(Calidris pusilla) -
Semipalmated Sandpiper
(Calidris pusilla) -
Semipalmated Sandpiper
(Calidris pusilla) -
Semipalmated Sandpiper
(Calidris pusilla) -
Sharp-shinned Hawk
(Accipiter striatus) -
Sharp-shinned Hawk
(Accipiter striatus) -
Sharp-tailed Grouse
(Tympanuchus phasianellus) -
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
(Calidris acuminata) -
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
(Calidris acuminata) -
Short-billed Dowitcher
(Limnodromus griseus) -
Short-billed Dowitcher
(Limnodromus griseus) -
Short-billed Dowitcher
(Limnodromus griseus) -
Short-billed Dowitcher
(Limnodromus griseus) -
Short-eared Owl
(Asio flammeus) -
Short-eared Owl
(Asio flammeus) -
Short-eared Owl
(Asio flammeus) -
Short-eared Owl
(Asio flammeus) -
Short-tailed Albatross
(Phoebastria albatrus) -
Short-tailed Shearwater
(Puffinus tenuirostris) -
Short-tailed Shearwater
(Puffinus tenuirostris) -
Sky Lark
(Alauda arvensis) -
Slaty-backed Gull
(Larus schistisagus) -
Slaty-backed Gull
(Larus schistisagus) -
Snow Bunting
(Plectrophenax nivalis) -
Snow Bunting
(Plectrophenax nivalis) -
Snow Bunting
(Plectrophenax nivalis) -
Snow Goose
(Chen caerulescens) -
Snow Goose
(Chen caerulescens) -
Snow Goose
(Chen caerulescens) -
Snowy Egret
(Egretta thula) -
Snowy Owl
(Bubo scandiacus) -
Snowy Owl
(Bubo scandiacus) -
Snowy Owl
(Bubo scandiacus) -
Snowy Plover
(Charadrius alexandrinus) -
Solitary Sandpiper
(Tringa solitaria) -
Solitary Sandpiper
(Tringa solitaria) -
Song Sparrow
(Melospiza melodia) -
Song Sparrow
(Melospiza melodia) -
Sooty Grouse
(Dendragapus fuliginosus) -
Sooty Grouse
(Dendragapus fuliginosus) -
Sooty Shearwater
(Puffinus griseus) -
Sooty Shearwater
(Puffinus griseus) -
Sora
(Porzana carolina) -
Sora
(Porzana carolina) -
Sora
(Porzana carolina) -
South Polar Skua
(Stercorarius maccormicki) -
South Polar Skua
(Stercorarius maccormicki) -
Spotted Owl
(Strix occidentalis) -
Spotted Owl
(Strix occidentalis) -
Spotted Owl
(Strix occidentalis) -
Spotted Sandpiper
(Actitis macularius) -
Spotted Sandpiper
(Actitis macularius) -
Spotted Sandpiper
(Actitis macularius) -
Spotted Towhee
(Pipilo maculatus) -
Spotted Towhee
(Pipilo maculatus) -
Spruce Grouse
(Falcipennis canadensis) -
Spruce Grouse
(Falcipennis canadensis) -
Steller's Jay
(Cyanocitta stelleri) -
Steller's Jay
(Cyanocitta stelleri) -
Stilt Sandpiper
(Calidris himantopus) -
Stilt Sandpiper
(Calidris himantopus) -
Stilt Sandpiper
(Calidris himantopus) -
Streaked Horned Lark
(Eremophila alpestris strigata) -
Streaked Horned Lark
(Eremophila alpestris strigata) -
Surf Scoter
(Melanitta perspicillata)
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Search for Species
Utilizing double quotes for exact terms can narrow your search results. Ex. A common name search of Northwestern Sedge matches 'Northwestern Sedge' and 'Northwestern Showy Sedge'. Typing "Northwestern Sedge" return only 'Northwestern Sedge'.
- Abarenicola claparedi - (Rough-skinned lugworm)
- Abarenicola pacifica - (Pacific lugworm)
- Abarenicola sp.
- Abies amabilis - (Pacific Silver Fir)
- Abies concolor - (White Fir)
- Abies grandis - (Grand Fir)
- Abies lasiocarpa - (Subalpine Fir)
- Abies lasiocarpa var. lasiocarpa - (Subalpine Fir)
- Abies procera - (Noble Fir)
- Abietinaria sp
Species Lists
External links
- BirdWeb
- Burke Museum
- Native plant list (King County)
- Puget Sound Ecosystem Monitoring Program
- USGS: Nonindigenous Aquatic Species in Puget Sound
- Washington Herp Atlas
- Washington Invasive Species Council
- Washington Natural Heritage Program
- Washington Natural Heritage Program species lists
- World Register of Marine Species