Video: Hope at Big Basin arrives on the wings of a bird

Nesting endangered marbled murrelet shows recovery at Big Basin Redwoods State Park

As officials work to rebuild Big Basin Redwoods State Park following the CZU Complex fire that burned through 97% of the historical park in 2020, a bit of inspiration arrived in September on the wings of a bird. Researchers monitoring the area in the wake of the fires discovered an active marbled murrelet nest in the branches of a burned, but surviving, tree. We’ve documented the recovery of the coast redwood forests in the wake of the fires, but this amazing video of a young endangered chick taking its first flight is further evidence that the forest is healing. The marbled murrelet is listed as Threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act, and Endangered under the California Endangered Species Act.

This amazing video come courtesy of Frans Lanting Studio: © Frans Lanting / lanting.com