The bald eagle, found only in North America, was delisted from the federal threatened and endangered species list in 2007, though they still retain endangered status in the state of California. As dead or dying fish are an important food source for bald eagles, they concentrate in areas with an abundant amount of fresh fish and salmon, such as Alaska and Redwood, Calif. Bald eagles are known for their distinct white head and tail, which stick out against the dark brown and black feathers that cover their torso. They are often found nesting in trees, or diving for fish at lakes or rivers.
The tidewater goby is a small, grey-brown fish that grows to be about two inches in length at full maturity, the females developing a darker hue than the males. Endemic to California, the tidewater goby lives in estuaries, coastal lagoons and marshes, and can be found at the bottom of shallow bodies of water. The most prominent threats to the tidewater goby include loss of habitat due to coastal development, alteration of water flows and habitat damage caused by pollution.
Marbled murrelets are small- to moderate-sized birds that inhabit calm, shallow waters but breed inland. Unique to the marbled murrelet is that they molt during breeding season, shedding their usual gray, black and white feathers for brown plumage. They have a dark gray head with a slender bill, a white underside and narrow, pointed wings. Marbled murrelets often travel in pairs or small groups and diet on small, schooling fish. Their greatest threat is habitat loss and destruction, as they breed in forest areas that suffer due to coastal development.
Though there are only a handful of endangered species in Redwood, Calif., there are many species in the area that have a threatened status. Threatened species are classified as a species that may become extinct without protection, while endangered species belong to a small population that are at greater risk of becoming extinct. Some of the threatened species home to Redwood include the Chinook salmon, the northern spotted owl and the Steller's sea lion, all of which have the potential of reaching endangered status in the future.
