Wildlife Specialist report

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have been overlooked in the past particularly as the range in which it occurs is infrequently visited and has not been studied in detail (Hubbard 1985). In the years 1993 to 1995 there were records from two sites in the Pinos Altos Mountains (Zimmerman 1994). Burrowing Owl (Forest Service Sensitive Species Representative of Grassland Vegetation Cover Type) - Burrowing owl habitat is dry, open, short grass, and treeless plains, often associated with burrowing mammals. Optimum habitat for burrowing owls is typified by short vegetation and presence of fresh small mammal burrows (NatureServe Explorer 2009). It is found in open grasslands, especially prairie, plains, and savanna, sometimes in open areas such as vacant lots near human habitation (e.g., campuses, airports, golf courses, perimeter of agricultural fields, banks of irrigation canals; NatureServe Explorer 2009). In Northern Great Plains of U.S., preferred grassland on aridic ustoll and typic boroll soil types where vegetation was heavily grazed by small mammals (NatureServe Explorer 2009). Burrowing owls spend much time on the ground or on low perches such as fence posts or dirt mounds (NatureServe Explorer 2009). Nests of burrowing owls are often in colonies in the West, in abandoned burrows of prairie dogs or ground squirrels or of woodchucks, foxes, badgers, armadillos, where the owl enlarges and modifies nest burrow by digging with feet (BISON-M 2009). The nest location and type of nest that burrowing owls tend to select their burrows in are areas with other burrows, close to roads, surrounded by bare ground or short grass. Most often they use burrows dug by mammals such as ground squirrels, badgers, prairie dogs, marmots, skunks, armadillos, kangaroo rats, and tortoises. Western burrowing owls can excavate holes where burrowing mammals are absent. Incubation is done by the female only; In New Mexico, this begins when first egg is laid. The male feeds the female in early morning and evening. The female comes out only briefly at these times. Intensified land use, primarily the conversion of grasslands for agricultural purposes and urban development, has resulted in widespread loss and fragmentation of nesting habitat. Eradication programs for the prairie dog and ground squirrel, pesticide use and food availability are also contributing factors to the population decline. Burrowing owls are uncommon summer residents that breed in GNF (Zimmerman, 1995). The New Mexico Game and Fish Department published guidelines and recommendations for burrowing owl surveys and mitigation in 2007. They recommend the following mitigation actions to avoid negative impacts to the species: No disturbance should occur within 50 m of occupied burrows during the nonbreeding season (September through February) or within 75 m during the breeding season (March through August). 112
Song Bird Summary: Table 82 list road associated and motorized trail/ORV factors related to song bird focal species that represent this group (Gaines et al. 2003); analysis factors based on the analysis factor discussed above; and the indicator that will be used to compare the different levels of affect between the different alternatives. Table 82: Focal Group Song Birds Road Associated Factors Collisions Nesting Loss Poaching Disturbance, Displacement, Avoidance, Harassment Motorized Trail/ORV Associated Factors Collisions Nesting Loss Poaching Disturbance, Displacement, Avoidance, Harassment Combined Analysis Analysis Factors Indicator Harvest/Direct Effects Route Miles Disturbance/Indirect Effects Disturbance Zone Summarized In Acres Table 83 summarizes the harvest indicator, disturbance indicator, and analysis area that will be used to analyze the effects of the different alternatives to song birds. Table 83: Focal Species Motorized Activity Harvest Plains Titmouse Gray Vireo Costa’s Hummingbird White-eared Hummingbird Burrowing Owl Disturbance Analysis Indicator Zone Area Motorized Trail/ORV Use Route Miles 100m Pinon-Juniper/ Shrub Oak Woodland Motorized Trail/ORV and Roads Motorized Trail/ORV and Roads Motorized Trail/ORV and Roads Route Miles 100m Desert Shrub/Grassland Route Miles 100m Ponderosa Pine Route Miles 75m Plains and Mountain Grassland 113
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Gila National Forest Travel Managem
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that are on the Regional Forester S
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ALTERNATIVES and MITIGATION MEASURE
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AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT The Gila Natio
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In 1977, a study was published by a
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Regional Forester Sensitive Species
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MacGillivray’s Warbler HP Painted
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Barriers to Animal Travel or Moveme
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occupied sites, etc.). For habitat
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Issues identified during scoping re
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Elk (Game Species identified as spe
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Table 12 summarizes the harvest ind
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Table 14: Pronghorn Analysis Area -
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Bighorn Sheep (Forest Service Sensi
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Mule Deer (Gila Management Indicato
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Wide Ranging Carnivores Table19: Wi
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from a road, except when feeding. K
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HUC 1303020202 Hot/Cold Springs 195
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Percent Change -0.17% -20.66% -45.4
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Mountain Lion and Black Bear (game
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So under this alternative through t
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microhabitat in the desert landscap
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Southern red-backed vole (Forest Se
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largely unknown, but it is thought
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Small Mammals-Effects by Alternativ
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Beaver (Gila Management Indicator S
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White-nosed Coati, Western Red Bat,
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2% in the Hooded Skunk and Botta’
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The literature documents that a lar
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iparian (cottonwood/sycamore), and
Page 61 and 62: Reptiles and Amphibians-Effects by
Page 63 and 64: effects to the species and its habi
Page 65 and 66: Arizona Toad and Narrow Headed Gart
Page 67 and 68: Under this alternative you continue
Page 69 and 70: from grassland areas, and game bird
Page 71 and 72: Spotted Owl and determined that roa
Page 73 and 74: and Miller, 1997, Hamann et al, 199
Page 75 and 76: Shrub/Grassland vegetation types, a
Page 77 and 78: Table 49: Mexican Spotted Owl Criti
Page 79 and 80: The potential disturbance area in P
Page 81 and 82: Table 51: Mexican spotted owl feder
Page 83 and 84: Northern Goshawk (Gila MIS Species,
Page 85 and 86: Peregrine Falcon (Forest Service Se
Page 87 and 88: dates the species’ successful nes
Page 89 and 90: NMPIF High-Priority Species Alt. B
Page 91 and 92: Cavity Nesting Birds-Effects by Alt
Page 93 and 94: Findings: Table66: Hairy woodpecker
Page 95 and 96: 2008). The GBMA is primarily manage
Page 97 and 98: trees, and succulents dominated by
Page 99 and 100: New Mexico, where it is resident in
Page 101 and 102: Table 71: Analysis Area - Existing
Page 103 and 104: In these analysis areas the area of
Page 105 and 106: Neotropic Cormorant (Forest Service
Page 107 and 108: the Wilson’s phalarope analysis a
Page 109 and 110: NMPIF High Priority Species Common
Page 111: Gray Vireo (Forest Service Sensitiv
Page 115 and 116: Costa’s Hummingbird (Forest Servi
Page 117 and 118: Plains Titmouse (Forest Service Sen
Page 119 and 120: For the focal species and their ass
Page 121 and 122: the forest edge (New Mexico Partner
Page 123 and 124: conifers with dense foliage. Limiti
Page 125 and 126: Merriam’s Wild Turkey (Ponderosa
Page 127 and 128: Findings: Table 96: Mearn’s quail
Page 129 and 130: showed an increase in numbers from
Page 131 and 132: Insect - Effects by Alternative A M
Page 133 and 134: Dashed Ringtail (Forest Service Sen
Page 135 and 136: area. These routes continue to caus
Page 137 and 138: ecreational activities, game manage
Page 139 and 140: 6 th codes remains between 1.5 to 2
Page 141 and 142: Table 107: 5th Code 6th Code Waters
Page 143 and 144: MSO PACs Analysis Area 187,083 Acre
Page 145 and 146: HUC 1302020804 Alamocito Canyon Tot
Page 147 and 148: 6th Code Watershed Alt B Alt C Alt
Page 149 and 150: Forest Plan and Other Laws and Regu
Page 151 and 152: Topic Threatened & Endangered Speci
Page 153 and 154: Appendix A Gila National Forest Neo
Page 155 and 156: Oak-Juniper Acorn Woodpecker Dark-e
Page 157 and 158: Ponderosa Pine Acorn Woodpecker Chi
Page 159: Marsh/Open American Avocet Clark’
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