Decades-long search ends: Rare seabird nest discovered on Haida Gwaii
A research team has confirmed the first marbled murrelet nest on Haida Gwaii in over three decades, marking only the second such find on the island. The discovery came through a combination of GPS tracking, diet analysis, environmental DNA sampling, and targeted nest searches conducted in partnership with local authorities. Marbled murrelets are unusual among seabirds because they fly inland to lay a single egg on a tree branch in old-growth forests.
The confirmed nest ends a three-decade gap in documented breeding for this elusive species on Haida Gwaii. Researchers combined multiple non-invasive methods—tracking tagged birds, analyzing their diet, and screening environmental DNA—to narrow their search before locating the nest in old-growth forest. This is only the second such find ever recorded on the island.
Marbled murrelets are unique among seabirds: instead of nesting on cliffs or shores, they fly far inland to lay a single egg on a mossy tree branch. Their dependence on mature, undisturbed forest makes them a sensitive indicator of ecosystem health, and each confirmed nest provides rare insight into their hidden reproductive habits.
This discovery could deepen public and scientific understanding of a species that bridges marine and terrestrial ecosystems. It may inform future conservation planning for old-growth forests, which are critical to murrelet breeding. Local communities, researchers, and land managers could benefit from renewed attention to habitat protection, while the find might also raise awareness of biodiversity loss and the value of long-term monitoring.