The story of the
Marbled Murrelet as our Company Logo:
During most of my life on Northern Vancouver
Island, I have been aware of this seemingly erratic little bird; as
I watched it zig-zag through the air on stubby wings, tips moving
furiously while appearing to touch the surface of the water in a blur
of motion. Sometimes alone or in small groups(six to eight) I used
to watch them, and anticipate their turns as they crested each
wave. They were constant companions where ever I went, either bobbing
on the water after food, or skimming the surface at 60 mph while on
the move.
Photo credit: Tim
Zurkowski
The Marbled Murrelet was a natural for
our logo in many ways, some being that its affinity to water and land
paralleling that of kayakers; but mainly because of the fact that its
way of life is immanently threatened by us humans, so our own way of
life is also threatened by ourselves that we should realize that life
is sharing in respect to all living creatures. Hence Odyssey Kayaking
Ltd.adopted the motto "Sharing the Waves". The next time
you're on the water, look for our little friend; he'll be there
waiting to share with you, his world. The following is a little
information found during our research of the "Marbled Murrelet":
The Marbled Murrelet or Brachyramphus
marmoratus in the past has largely been an unknown and uninteresting
bird as compared to the Eagle. The early day loggers called them
"fog larks", and that was about as far as the interest went,
up until recently. The summer plumage is "marbled" in shades
of dark brown. The marbled murrelet is found both in summer and winter
off of the British Columbia coastal waters. Young murrelets are quite
distinctive in the black and white plumage that the adults will also
adopt for the winter months. White shoulder patches and a white throat
distinguish the Marbled Murrelets winter garb. The wintering grounds
for the bulk of the population remain a mystery. Adult murrelets are
believed to live as long as 25 years because there are few natural
threats in their environment. Human activities can have a serious
effect on the population.
The feathers are unusually thick and
dense to keep out the cold. The feet are webbed like a duck's, but
very small, and are used for propulsion only when the bird swims on
the surface. Underwater, the feet steer the bird, and it is propelled
forward by its powerful "flippers" the same stubby wings
that must work so hard to keep the bird in the air. The murrelet uses
mostly short dives, which last less than 30 seconds. Often, after a
series of dives, it will flap its wings vigorously. This fluffs the
plumage and restores the insulating effect of the feathers.
Photo credit: Tim
Zurkowski
Marbled Murrelets come ashore only
during the breeding season, to lay and incubate the egg and to feed
the nestling. They nest on the mainland and islands in almost total
obscurity, but they fly up to 50 miles inland to lay eggs on mossy
depressions in the branches of old-growth trees. Nesting begins in May
when the female lays a single large egg. For about one month, each
adult takes daylong turns at incubation. The adults use off-duty days
to fatten up on fish and get ready for the next shift on the nest. The
first eggs hatch in June, and the life of the parent birds becomes
hectic. Every night for about a month, each parent carries a meal to
the nest. They fly up to 60 miles an hour to the forest at dawn and
dusk, and disappears in the tall trees. Young murrelets begin to
appear in coastal waters at the end of June but are not numerous until
late July.
The meals usually consist of a single
fish about 15 cm long that the murrelet can carry crosswise in its
bill. Slightly larger fish are carried with the head down the bird's
throat and the tail protruding from its mouth. Catching fish takes up
most of the murrelets' time. Most often the birds dive well below the
surface and swallow fish underwater. Sometimes a murrelet will drive a
dense school of fish to the surface and keep it there as long as
possible with shallow dives. During the shallow dives, the murrelet
will pick off and eat individuals one at a time. The swarms of small
fish boiling at the surface will attract other murrelets and gulls
eager for easy pickings.
The next time you are out on the water,
and a marbled murrelet pops up right beside you; don't be startled.
Just contemplate for a bit on how blessed we are to still be able to
share the environment with this little wonder, and draw your own
parallel between the marbled murrelet and the kayaker.
