Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge
on the Oregon coast
. It is one of six National Wildlife Refuges in the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex
. Located on Cape Meares
, the refuge was established in 1938 to protect a remnant of coastal old-growth forest and the surrounding habitat used by breeding seabirds. The area provides a home for several threatened bird species, including Marbled Murrelet
s, Bald Eagle
s and Peregrine Falcon
s. Peregrines, once at the brink of extinction, have nested here since 1987. The refuge, with the exception of the Oregon Coast Trail
, was designated a Research Natural Area
in 1987.
The Cape Meares Light
, which marked the cape at night from 1890 until 1963, is now open to the public. Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge
and Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge
are easily seen from the cape. It is the only point in the United States from which three refuges can be seen at the same time.
and interpretive displays along the trail describe the varied wildlife. From this trail, it is possible to see migrating Gray Whale
s, three species of Scoter
s, Western Grebe
s, and Common Loons. A wildlife viewing deck, part of the Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint, provides views of the refuge's sea cliffs and inshore islands. In season, visitors can see the aerie of a nesting Peregrine Falcon pair. Each spring thousands of seabirds return to nest on the cliffs. Species that can be seen are Brants, Pelagic Cormorant
s, Common Murres, Tufted Puffin
s, Pigeon Guillemot
s, Western Gull
s, and Black Oystercatchers. This state park has 3 miles (4.8 km) of hiking trails and a 1 miles (1.6 km) walking trail through the forest of sitka spruce and western hemlock.
killed the Klootchy Creek Giant, once considered the largest sitka spruce in the world, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(FWS) granted a special use permit to Ascending the Giants, a Portland
based organization, which allowed them to climb and measure the Cape Meares Giant. Based on the results, the FWS issued a press release, in February 2008, which announced that the tree is the largest known sitka spruce in the state and that it was designated a State Heritage Tree.
National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge is a designation for certain protected areas of the United States managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge System is the world's premiere system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife and plants...
on the Oregon coast
Oregon Coast
The Oregon Coast is a region of the U.S. state of Oregon. It runs generally north-south along the Pacific Ocean, forming the western border of the state; the region is bounded to the east by the Oregon Coast Range. The Oregon Coast stretches approximately from the Columbia River in the north to...
. It is one of six National Wildlife Refuges in the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex
Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex
The Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex consists of six National Wildlife Refuges along the Oregon Coast. It provides wilderness protection to thousands of small islands, rocks, reefs, headlands, marshes, and bays totaling 371 acres spanning 320 miles of Oregon's coastline...
. Located on Cape Meares
Cape Meares
Cape Meares is a small headland on the Pacific coast in Tillamook County, Oregon, United States. The cape forms a high steep bluff on the south end of Tillamook Bay, approximately five miles northwest of the city of Tillamook...
, the refuge was established in 1938 to protect a remnant of coastal old-growth forest and the surrounding habitat used by breeding seabirds. The area provides a home for several threatened bird species, including Marbled Murrelet
Marbled Murrelet
The Marbled Murrelet is a small seabird from the North Pacific. It is a member of the auk family. It nests in old-growth forests or on the ground at higher latitudes where trees cannot grow...
s, Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
s and Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine Falcon , also known as the Peregrine, and historically as the Duck Hawk in North America, is a widespread bird of prey in the family Falconidae. A large, crow-sized falcon, it has a blue-gray back, barred white underparts, and a black head and "moustache"...
s. Peregrines, once at the brink of extinction, have nested here since 1987. The refuge, with the exception of the Oregon Coast Trail
Oregon Coast Trail
The Oregon Coast Trail is a long-distance hiking route along the Pacific coast of Oregon in the United States. It follows the coast of Oregon from the mouth of the Columbia River to the California border south of Brookings....
, was designated a Research Natural Area
Research Natural Area
Research Natural Area is a designation for certain protected areas in the United States.Research Natural Areas are part of a nationwide network of ecological areas set aside for both research and education. The network includes areas managed by many Federal agencies...
in 1987.
The Cape Meares Light
Cape Meares Light
The Cape Meares Light is an inactive lighthouse on the coast of Oregon. It is located on Cape Meares just south of Tillamook Bay. It is open to the public.-History:Built in 1890, Cape Meares Light served as the light station for Tillamook Bay...
, which marked the cape at night from 1890 until 1963, is now open to the public. Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge
Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge
Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge is a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge off the northern Oregon Coast. It is located on the central coast of Tillamook County, in the northwestern part of Oregon. It is one of six National Wildlife Refuges within the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex...
and Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge is a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge off the southwestern Oregon Coast. It is one of six National Wildlife Refuges comprising the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex...
are easily seen from the cape. It is the only point in the United States from which three refuges can be seen at the same time.
Wildlife viewing
The Oregon Coast Trail passes through the center of this headlandHeadlands and bays
Headlands and bays are two related features of the coastal environment.- Geology and geography :Headlands and bays are often found on the same coastline. A bay is surrounded by land on three sides, whereas a headland is surrounded by water on three sides. Headlands are characterized by high,...
and interpretive displays along the trail describe the varied wildlife. From this trail, it is possible to see migrating Gray Whale
Gray Whale
The gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus, is a baleen whale that migrates between feeding and breeding grounds yearly. It reaches a length of about , a weight of , and lives 50–70 years. The common name of the whale comes from the gray patches and white mottling on its dark skin. Gray whales were...
s, three species of Scoter
Scoter
The scoters are stocky seaducks in the genus Melanitta. The drakes are mostly black and have swollen bills. Females are brown.They breed in the far north of Europe, Asia and North America, and winter further south in temperate zones of those continents. They form large flocks on suitable coastal...
s, Western Grebe
Western Grebe
The Western Grebe, , is a species in the grebe family of water birds. Folk names include "dabchick", "swan grebe" and "swan-necked grebe"....
s, and Common Loons. A wildlife viewing deck, part of the Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint, provides views of the refuge's sea cliffs and inshore islands. In season, visitors can see the aerie of a nesting Peregrine Falcon pair. Each spring thousands of seabirds return to nest on the cliffs. Species that can be seen are Brants, Pelagic Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
The Pelagic Cormorant , also known as Baird's Cormorant, is a small member of the cormorant family Phalacrocoracidae. Analogous to other smallish cormorants, it is also called Pelagic Shag occasionally...
s, Common Murres, Tufted Puffin
Tufted Puffin
The Tufted Puffin also known as Crested Puffin, is a relatively abundant medium-sized pelagic seabird in the auk family found throughout the North Pacific Ocean....
s, Pigeon Guillemot
Pigeon Guillemot
The Pigeon Guillemot is a medium-sized alcid endemic to the Pacific. They closely resemble the other members of the genus Cepphus, particularly the Black Guillemot, which is slightly smaller....
s, Western Gull
Western Gull
The Western Gull, Larus occidentalis, is a large white-headed gull that lives on the western coast of North America. It was previously considered conspecific, the same species, with the Yellow-footed Gull of the Gulf of California...
s, and Black Oystercatchers. This state park has 3 miles (4.8 km) of hiking trails and a 1 miles (1.6 km) walking trail through the forest of sitka spruce and western hemlock.
The Cape Meares Giant
Some of the trees on the refuge are hundreds of years old and more than 200 feet (61 m) tall. The Cape Meares Giant, a sitka spruce, is of special interest. After the Great Coastal Gale of 2007Great Coastal Gale of 2007
The Great Coastal Gale of 2007 was a series of powerful Pacific storms that affected the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington and the Canadian province of British Columbia between December 1, 2007 and December 3, 2007....
killed the Klootchy Creek Giant, once considered the largest sitka spruce in the world, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
(FWS) granted a special use permit to Ascending the Giants, a Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
based organization, which allowed them to climb and measure the Cape Meares Giant. Based on the results, the FWS issued a press release, in February 2008, which announced that the tree is the largest known sitka spruce in the state and that it was designated a State Heritage Tree.