Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge protects a remnant of Oregon coastal old-growth forest and vital seabird habitat on a forested headland with sea cliffs and offshore islands. Established in 1938, it is especially important for threatened marbled murrelets and for thousands of nesting seabirds each spring, including common murres, tufted puffins, and black oystercatchers; peregrine falcons have nested here since 1987. Much of the area became a Research Natural Area in 1987, while the Oregon Coast Trail passes through it and offers views of migrating marine and bird life. The cape is also known for towering Sitka spruce, including the Cape Meares Giant, recognized in 2008 as Oregon’s largest known Sitka spruce by that measure.