The marbled murrelet got a break recently when the US Fish and Wildlife Service reversed itself and decided not to follow through on a proposal to considerably reduce the bird’s critical habitat. The surprise move leaves in place protection for more than 3 million acres of coastal old-growth forest. The earlier proposal would have slashed 94% of the threatened seabird’s critical habitat as part of the Bush Administration’s plan to increase old growth logging in the Northwest.

“This reversal, coupled with a recent court decision throwing out a timber industry attempt to delist the murrelet, should end the timber industry’s profit-driven and illegal attack on the coastal forests that murrelets need to survive,” said Earthjustice attorney Kristen Boyles. Earthjustice, representing several conservation groups including Conservation Northwest, led the charge to challenge the agency’s proposed habitat revision and to fight the timber industry lawsuit.

Thanks to all of you who responded to the call to action we put out in 2006. This little sea bird, legacy to our old-growth forests, can rest a little easier today partly because of your help.