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Hairy Woodpecker (Management Indicator Species Representative of Ponderosa Pine and Mixed Conifer Snag Component) - The Hairy Woodpecker is an indicator of high seral stage ponderosa pine and mixed conifer because the older age classes within these vegetation types provide snags and an abundance of insects. The Hairy Woodpecker uses tree cavities for roosting and winter cover. Overall, the woodpecker appears to be minimally impacted by forest fragmentation, although a few studies have <strong>report</strong>ed a decline in numbers as forest patch size decreases. The presence of suitable cavity trees is a more important consideration (Bushman and Therre, 1988). It nests in holes dug mostly by the male in live or dead trees or shrubs, at an average height of 29.5 feet (9 meters) above ground. In most areas, it favors dying parts of live trees, especially where fungal heart rot has softened the heartwood. Limiting factors for the Hairy Woodpecker include predation and habitat modification. Snags (25cm or more in DBH) and an average of five snags/hectare are assumed optimal for woodpecker reproduction, but may not be adequate for foraging. With over 1,341,662 acres of ponderosa pine, and mixed conifer vegetation on the Gila National Forest, snag habitat is abundant for this species. Again the Hairy Woodpecker is the focal species for this group/guild of species. The analysis indicators for direct and disturbance effects are described above. Cavity Nester Summary: Table 63 list road associated and motorized trail/ORV factors related to cavity nester focal species that represent this group; 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 63: Focal Group Cavity Nesters Road Associated Motorized Trail/ORV Combined Analysis Analysis Factors¹ Associated Factors Factors Indicator Nesting Loss Nesting Loss Harvest/Direct Effects Miles Disturbance, Displacement, Avoidance, Harassment Disturbance, Displacement, Avoidance, Harassment Disturbance/Indirect Effects Disturbance Zone Summarized In Acres Table 64 summarizes the harvest indicator, disturbance indicator, and analysis area that will be used to analyze the effects of the different alternatives to cavity nesters. Table 64: Focal Species Motorized Activity Harvest Hairy Woodpecker Disturbance Analysis Indicator Zone Area Motorized Trail/ORV Use Route Miles 60m Ponderosa Pine Mixed Conifer 90
Cavity Nesting Birds-Effects by Alternative Hairy Woodpecker (Gila MIS Species -Representative of Ponderosa Pine and Mixed Conifer Snag Component Species) Table 65: Analysis Area - Existing Condition and Proposed Change Table by Alternative Hairy Woodpecker Habitat (Ponderosa Pine and Mixed Conifer) Analysis Area Total Habitat on USFS = 1,341,662 ac. Motorized Routes Existing Effects Change in Effects Alt B (No Action) Alt C Alt D Alt E Alt F Alt G Open Existing ML 2 - ML 5 Miles 2,087 -66 -742 -1,141 -512 -526 Acres 98,052 -3,216 -33,989 -52,599 -23,187 -23,844 Reopen Closed ML 1 Miles 0 1 0 0 1 1 Acres 0 46 23 23 33 33 Administrative Route Miles 0 29 87 142 68 69 Acres 0 1,444 4,420 7,023 3,454 3,493 Add Unauthorized Route Miles 0 1 1 0 0 1 Acres 0 41 54 6 7 31 Add Admin. Unauthorized Miles 0 0 0 0 0 0 Acres 0 24 13 13 13 13 Seasonal - Resource Protection Miles 0 0 8 0 0 0 Motorized Trails Existing Road to OHV Trail Acres 0 0 374 0 0 0 Miles 0 0 4 0 4 5 Acres 0 12 255 0 183 222 Existing ATV Trail Miles 11 0 -4 -11 0 0 Acres 535 -15 -211 -535 -15 -15 Closed Road to OHV Trail Miles 0 8 1 0 8 8 Acres 0 398 73 0 396 396 Administrative Trail Miles 0 0 0 0 0 0 Acres 0 8 14 8 8 8 Add Unauthorized Trail Miles 0 43 6 0 13 13 Acres 0 2,067 300 0 607 607 Total FS Routes and Trails Miles 2,099 2,114 1,461 1,089 1,680 1,668 Percent in Miles of Alt. B (Existing) %Miles 1% -30% -48% -20% -21% Motorized Dispersed Camping Acres 987,532 -938,273 -949,919 -987,532 -940,746 -945,249 Percent in Acres of Alt. B (Existing) %Acres -95% -96% -100% -95% -96% Motorized Areas - All Vehicles Acres 9 NC -9 -9 NC NC Motorized Big Game Retrieval Acres 987,532 -112,610 -949,919 -987,532 -333,214 -945,249 Percent in Acres of Alt. B (Existing) %Acres -11% -96% -100% -33% -96% No Action Alternative (Alt. B): Under the existing condition for this focal species and its associated analysis area there are 2,087 miles of motorized routes. These routes continue to cause habitat loss and the potential for direct effects like collision, poaching, and collection. The potential disturbance zone for this species and its associated analysis 91
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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
Page 39 and 40: Mountain Lion and Black Bear (game
Page 41 and 42: So under this alternative through t
Page 43 and 44: microhabitat in the desert landscap
Page 45 and 46: Southern red-backed vole (Forest Se
Page 47 and 48: largely unknown, but it is thought
Page 49 and 50: Small Mammals-Effects by Alternativ
Page 51 and 52: Beaver (Gila Management Indicator S
Page 53 and 54: White-nosed Coati, Western Red Bat,
Page 55 and 56: 2% in the Hooded Skunk and Botta’
Page 57 and 58: The literature documents that a lar
Page 59 and 60: 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: NMPIF High-Priority Species Alt. B
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 and 112: Gray Vireo (Forest Service Sensitiv
Page 113 and 114: Song Bird Summary: Table 82 list ro
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
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Table 107: 5th Code 6th Code Waters
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MSO PACs Analysis Area 187,083 Acre
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HUC 1302020804 Alamocito Canyon Tot
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6th Code Watershed Alt B Alt C Alt
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Forest Plan and Other Laws and Regu
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Topic Threatened & Endangered Speci
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Appendix A Gila National Forest Neo
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Oak-Juniper Acorn Woodpecker Dark-e
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Ponderosa Pine Acorn Woodpecker Chi
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Marsh/Open American Avocet Clark’
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