Jet Noise Is Causing Empty Nests

Citizens protest the expansion of Growler jet noise

For decades, Northwest Washington communities partnered with the military to do their part for national security while respectfully sharing the same countryside, airspace, and waters. 

Today, however, the United States Navy is needlessly assaulting Puget Sound’s ecosystems and degrading critical habitats ---- disappearing our birds with jet noise. In Northwest Washington’s Puget Sound and the Salish Sea -- the Olympic Peninsula, San Juan Islands, Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands, are being battered daily by the Navy’s ear-shattering jet noise. Countrysides and airspace are no longer shared.
Canada geese chased away by Growler jetThe impacts of 118 jets training over 150 days per year for consecutive hours include deafening noise that is harming our  vast net-works of interconnected biological communities. 

Perhaps you have lost a beloved animal and can identify with this deep-seated kind of emotional sadness and loss. There is no replacing something loved and cherished once it is gone. Watching the death of a specie is the height of heartbreak --- especially when it doesn't need to happen. That's why I have turned my heartbreak into action. 

As the Navy continues to exert a heavy toll on our region’s pristine habitats, a Navy document states that the endangered Marbled Murrelets are exposed to an annual average of 89,000 aircraft operations on the Navy's Whidbey Island complex.  This shy seabird lives on the sea but nests high up in old growth forests - and is now laying just 1 egg a year. Alarmingly, this Spring --- only 4,000 of them survive in Washington. Yet nearly 7 million times each year these wary seabirds experience detrimental naval jet noise. And this doesn't include millions more exposures in the Olympic Peninsula where birds nest and raise their chicks. It's no wonder that reproduction is unable to keep up with the annual population loss, now running at minus 5% each year.

Foraging for fishMarbled Murrelets are leaving their foraging habitats in the Navy's overflight areas ---

Recent research shows that given the large number of jet noise exposures per year, it's expected that some Marbled Murrelets will be exposed repeatedly, multiple times each day. 

Experts expect, as a result of this enormous amount of jet noise, lower probability of nesting, lower nesting success, and in some cases, lower survival rates due to a combination of malnutrition, increased susceptibility to toxic exposures, and increased susceptibility toTwo Growlers heading back to base disease. 

The harms are clear.

In time, the consequence of exposure to aircraft overflights become detrimental to growth, development, and survival of some chicks, as well as, decreased reproduction in some adults. Some nestlings will have a prolonged period of growth and development before fledging. Delayed growth and development increases the risk of predation, accidental death from falling, or abandonment by the parents. Some juvenile and adult Marbled Murrelets will be more likely to die or become ill due to starvation, toxic exposures, and infections during periods of low prey availability. The bottom line is  --- Adult Marbled Murrelets is already having reduced breeding success.  This decline will continue without our intervention. These predictions are dire. 

Our actions are obvious.

We must reduce as much jet noise as possible as quickly as possible. Spring is a reminder that another breeding season has arrived. Each adult and chick is critical to long-term success. This seabird's habitat is unique and has developed over generations.  The Navy's Growler training started in 2009 and could be moved to other locations.  It's time for our hearts to lead the way to action.

It's up to each of us to save this amazing Washington seabird --- and stop jets from flying over nesting birds before this beautiful seabird disappears forever. Our time to achieve this success is short. 

Action is needed now.

Please help. Make a donation today, with our thanks. Let's make sure we've done all we can to stabilize and support a healthy population of the Marbled Murrelet.

Hope is Contagious