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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Surf Scoter
(Melanitta perspicillata) -
Surf Scoter
(Melanitta perspicillata) -
Surf Scoter
(Melanitta perspicillata) -
Surfbird
(Aphriza virgata) -
Surfbird
(Aphriza virgata) -
Surfbird
(Aphriza virgata) -
Swainson's Hawk
(Buteo swainsoni) -
Swainson's Hawk
(Buteo swainsoni) -
Swainson's Thrush
(Catharus ustulatus) -
Swainson's Thrush
(Catharus ustulatus) -
Swamp Sparrow
(Melospiza georgiana) -
Taverner's Canada Goose
(Branta hutchinsii taverneri) -
Thayer's Gull
(Larus thayeri) -
Thayer's Gull
(Larus thayeri) -
Thayer's Gull
(Larus thayeri) -
Thick-billed Murre
(Uria lomvia) -
Townsend's Solitaire
(Myadestes townsendi) -
Townsend's Solitaire
(Myadestes townsendi) -
Townsend's Warbler
(Dendroica townsendi) -
Townsend's Warbler
(Dendroica townsendi) -
Tree Swallow
(Tachycineta bicolor) -
Tree Swallow
(Tachycineta bicolor) -
Tropical Kingbird
(Tyrannus melancholicus) -
Trumpeter Swan
(Cygnus buccinator) -
Trumpeter Swan
(Cygnus buccinator) -
Trumpeter Swan
(Cygnus buccinator) -
Tufted Duck
(Aythya fuligula) -
Tufted Duck
(Aythya fuligula) -
Tufted Puffin
(Fratercula cirrhata) -
Tufted Puffin
(Fratercula cirrhata) -
Tufted Puffin
(Fratercula cirrhata) -
Tufted Puffin
(Fratercula cirrhata) -
Tufted Puffin
(Fratercula cirrhata) -
Tundra Swan
(Cygnus columbianus) -
Tundra Swan
(Cygnus columbianus) -
Tundra Swan
(Cygnus columbianus) -
Tundra Swan
(Cygnus columbianus) -
Turkey Vulture
(Cathartes aura) -
Turkey Vulture
(Cathartes aura) -
Turkey Vulture
(Cathartes aura) -
Upland Sandpiper
(Bartramia longicauda) -
Upland Sandpiper
(Bartramia longicauda) -
Upland Sandpiper
(Bartramia longicauda) -
Varied Thrush
(Ixoreus naevius) -
Varied Thrush
(Ixoreus naevius) -
Vaux's Swift
(Chaetura vauxi) -
Vaux's Swift
(Chaetura vauxi) -
Vaux's Swift
(Chaetura vauxi) -
Veery
(Catharus fuscescens) -
Veery
(Catharus fuscescens) -
Vesper Sparrow
(Pooecetes gramineus) -
Vesper Sparrow
(Pooecetes gramineus) -
Violet-green Swallow
(Tachycineta thalassina) -
Violet-green Swallow
(Tachycineta thalassina) -
Virginia Rail
(Rallus limicola) -
Virginia Rail
(Rallus limicola) -
Virginia Rail
(Rallus limicola) -
Wandering Tattler
(Tringa incana) -
Wandering Tattler
(Tringa incana) -
Wandering Tattler
(Tringa incana) -
Wandering Tattler
(Tringa incana) -
Warbling Vireo
(Vireo gilvus) -
Warbling Vireo
(Vireo gilvus) -
Western Bluebird
(Sialia mexicana) -
Western Bluebird
(Sialia mexicana) -
Western Grebe
(Aechmophorus occidentalis) -
Western Grebe
(Aechmophorus occidentalis) -
Western Grebe
(Aechmophorus occidentalis) -
Western Grebe
(Aechmophorus occidentalis) -
Western Grebe
(Aechmophorus occidentalis) -
Western Gull
(Larus occidentalis) -
Western Gull
(Larus occidentalis) -
Western Gull
(Larus occidentalis) -
Western Kingbird
(Tyrannus verticalis) -
Western Kingbird
(Tyrannus verticalis) -
Western Meadowlark
(Sturnella neglecta) -
Western Sage-Grouse
(Centrocercus urophasianus phaios) -
Western Sandpiper
(Calidris mauri) -
Western Sandpiper
(Calidris mauri) -
Western Sandpiper
(Calidris mauri) -
Western Screech-Owl
(Megascops kennicottii) -
Western Screech-Owl
(Megascops kennicottii) -
Western Scrub-Jay
(Aphelocoma californica) -
Western Scrub-Jay
(Aphelocoma californica) -
Western Snowy Plover
(Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) -
Western Tanager
(Piranga ludoviciana) -
Western Tanager
(Piranga ludoviciana) -
Western Wood-Pewee
(Contopus sordidulus) -
Western Wood-Pewee
(Contopus sordidulus) -
Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo
(Coccyzus americanus occidentalis) -
Whimbrel
(Numenius phaeopus) -
Whimbrel
(Numenius phaeopus) -
Whimbrel
(Numenius phaeopus) -
White-breasted Nuthatch
(Sitta carolinensis) -
White-breasted Nuthatch
(Sitta carolinensis) -
White-breasted Nuthatch
(Sitta carolinensis) -
White-crowned Sparrow
(Zonotrichia leucophrys) -
White-crowned Sparrow
(Zonotrichia leucophrys) -
White-crowned Sparrow
(Zonotrichia leucophrys) -
White-faced Ibis
(Plegadis chihi)
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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