MURRES ARE THE MOST ELEGANT OF THE ALCID SPECIES, STANDING VERY ERECT AND STREAMLINED.
THE MINORITY COLOUR MORPH WITH STRIKING WHITE "SPECTACLES" ARE TERMED "BRIDLED".
On Friday, Aug. 22 my daughter and I found a "baby" murre floating in the surf at Cannon Beach, Oregon. We were unsure whether or not to attempt to help it too. The legs were also useless and it was unable to fly. My daughter carried it in her sweater to the Lifeguard tower where we were directed to call the Wildlife Rehab center in Astoria. The center directed us to take the bird to the police station where we a small kennel was left waiting with a wet towel. A volunteer from Cannon Beach, we were told, would pick up the bird and deliver to the rehab center. We checked back at police station an hour later and were relieved to know that the kennel had been retrieved. We were very curious about the species and hope for a good outcome for the little creature we rescued. I was left wondering how the bird came to be there in the surf and have been trying to research nesting and locations of the common murre (although after our "adventure" with the little one we don't think of them as "common" at all but rather and amazing creature that we were blessed to find. I found it difficult to find information on how to identify the bird looking at various web sites. So I was happy to find this site and hope to learn more about the plight of these elegant birds.
Susan
08-Mar-2007 20:31
Today we rescued 2 common murres off the Moss Landing Beach. They have been transported to Monterey SPCA Wildlife. They appear to be starving according to a staff person there.
Cecilia Lewis
29-Jan-2007 03:34
1/27/2007
Today I found a sick ( no injury apparent) common murre at low tide on Drake's Beach, Pt. Reyes Natiuonal Seashore, CA. Contemplated abit, then took it to the ranger station ( kept it warm, dark and quiet). The murre's legs were useless and it seemed unable to fly. The first ranger told me to take it to a rehabilitation center about 1 hour away and said THIS WAS THE 2ND COMMON MURRE FOUND INCAPACITATED ON THE BEACH IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. Any ideas? ceciliawlewis@comcast.net