American Bird Conservancy
$45,121.24  Coast Range, Nearshore Ecoregions 

The Marbled Murrelet and the Western Snowy Plover, two federally threatened species and Oregon Conservation Strategy Species, share a common limiting factor of nest predation by members of the corvid family. Jays, ravens, and crows are natural nest predators, but their populations can be increased unintentionally by humans recreating near breeding areas. Studies have shown that when human food waste becomes accessible to corvids, their populations increase, thereby increasing the risk of nest predation. The goal of this project is to survey recreation sites in Oregon’s Coast Range and nearshore ecoregions as the first foundational step in implementing a “Crumb Clean” program. This is an education and infrastructure program that reduces the availability of human food waste and controls corvid densities by changing outdoor recreational users’ behaviors. Recreation sites will be surveyed for corvids and any existing infrastructure that supports program objectives. This information will then be used to prioritize sites and supplies for Crumb Clean implementation across the Coast Range and on Oregon beaches where Marbled Murrelet and Western Snowy Plover nest.