Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Roca Honda Mine

Chapter 3. Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences
Priority Bird Species Habitat
Brewer’s sparrow (Spizella
breweri)
Usually associated with big sage but it has adapted to rabbitbrush in the Zunis,
especially where it grows in large unbroken tracts, as in upper Bluewater
Canyon.
Gray vireo (Vireo vicinior) Prefers juniper savannah habitats especially on moderate rocky slopes generally
below 6,800 feet in elevation.
Juniper titmouse (Baeolophus
ridgwayi)**
Virginia’s warbler (Vermivora
virginiae)**
** Indicates species observed in the permit area.
Prefers juniper dominated relatively dry and open piñon-juniper habitats at
elevations of 6,000 to about 7,200 feet.
Considered to prefer arid montane forests with Gambel oak understory from
6,000 to 9,000 feet in elevation.
Piñon jays are known to occur abundantly throughout the permit area in all seasons, often
forming into flocks of 20 or more birds (RHR, 2011a). Nests were located on Section 9 in 2008.
This species was also detected on the USGS Mt. Taylor and Rinconada Canyon BBS routes
(USGS, 2010; USFS, 2010b). The piñon jay can be found on all of the habitats within the permit
area. This species is a highly social bird that places their nests in trees. Piñon jay populations are
declining due to destruction of piñon-juniper habitat to create grazing land for cattle. Changes in
fire regimes have also resulted in loss of many piñon pines, threating the piñon jay populations
(Balda, 2002).
Black throated gray warblers are common within the permit area and their habitat includes
piñon-juniper woodlands and juniper savannahs. Within the permit area this species is a summer
resident and was found to be most common in denser, more matures stands of piñon-juniper
woodlands (RHR, 2011a). This species has also been detected on the USGS Mt. Taylor and
Rinconada Canyon BBS routes (USGS, 2010; USFS, 2010b). Black throated gray warbler
populations appear to be stable or increasing rangewide. Threats include destruction and
modification of habitat (NatureServe, 2012c).
Band-tailed pigeons are not known to occur within the permit area and this species was not
observed during surveys. Band-tailed pigeons have been detected on the USGS Mt. Taylor BBS
route (USGS, 2010). North American BBS data shows significant long-term declines surveywide,
but sample sizes for interior populations are too small for reliable trend estimates. Habitat
degradation and destruction, and overhunting are the primary threats to this species (NatureServe,
2012d).
Gray flycatchers are known to occur within the permit area and this species was found to be a
particularly common breeder during surveys. Habitat within in the permit area includes piñonjuniper
woodlands and juniper savannahs and this species is both a summer resident and migrant
species of this area (RHR, 2011a). Gray flycatchers have also been detected on the USGS Mt.
Taylor and Rinconada Canyon BBS routes (USGS, 2010; USFS, 2010b). This species is relatively
common and its population is possibly increasing. Nest placement occurs in shrubs (Sterling,
1999).
Olive-sided flycatchers were observed in the permit area during breeding season surveys but this
species is uncommon in the permit area. Within the permit area, this species is a late spring
migrant and habitat includes piñon-juniper woodlands and juniper savannahs (RHR, 2011a).
DEIS for Roca Honda Mine, Cibola National Forest 225