Tufted Puffin – Oregon Conservation Strategy

Photo Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Overview

Species Common Name Tufted Puffin
Species Scientific Name Fratercula cirrhata
State Listing Status Sensitive

Ecoregions

Coast Range

Oregon’s Coast Range, known for its dramatic scenery, is extremely diverse, with habitats ranging from open sandy dunes to lush forests and from tidepools to headwater streams. It follows the coastline and extends east through coastal forest to the border of the Willamette Valley and Klamath Mountains ecoregions

Nearshore

The Nearshore ecoregion includes a variety of habitats ranging from submerged high-relief rocky reefs to broad expanses of intertidal mudflats in estuaries and hosts a vast array of fish, invertebrates, marine mammals, birds, plants, and micro-organisms. This ecoregion encompasses the area from the outer boundary of Oregon’s Territorial Sea to the supra-tidal zone, and up into the estuaries.

Special needs

Tufted Puffins nest in burrows or crevices on coastal islands and rocky headlands. They prefer steep slopes with deep soil for burrowing. Tufted Puffins require sites with minimal human or mammalian disturbance.

Limiting factors

Availability of habitat with suitable nesting substrate (soils for burrowing) is naturally limited in Oregon. This species is vulnerable to impacts from human disturbance, predators, and oil spills.

Data gaps

Obtain accurate population estimates for this difficult-to-survey, burrow-nesting species. Investigate reasons for perceived declines. Assess potential impacts from marine renewable energy projects.

Conservation actions

Prevent introduction of ground predators and human disturbance near nesting areas. Monitor and minimize negative impacts of ocean energy development. Take precautions to protect against oil spills.

Key reference or plan

Regional Seabird Conservation Plan, Pacific Region