Chapter 3 - Natural Resources - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan [March 2012 - Update]
The coastal California gnatcatcher is also a covered species in the North American
Landbird Conservation Plan (Rich et al. 2004), and the Coastal Scrub and Chaparral Bird
Conservation Plan (California Partners in Flight [CPIF] 2003).
MCBCP Status
The Base is in consultation with the USFWS regarding management of Upland habitats and
species basewide, including the gnatcatcher and its habitat. Since this species was listed,
the Base has instituted measures for avoidance and minimization of impacts to the
gnatcatcher and its preferred habitat, especially during its Special Management Season.
These programmatic instructions are provided to users and residents of the Base via Camp
Pendleton’s Base Order P3500.1M (Range and Training Regulations). Management
details, survey information, etc., for the coastal California gnatcatcher are located in
Appendix F, Section F.8.
DISTRIBUTION
Global
The coastal California gnatcatcher is restricted to coastal southern California and
northwestern Baja California, Mexico, from Los Angeles County (formerly Ventura and
San Bernardino Counties) south to El Rosario, Mexico (~30 o north latitude) (USFWS
1993a). The coastal California gnatcatcher is a non-migratory bird. Gnatcatchers are
typically found in stands of CSS that have moderate shrub canopy cover (40-80 percent).
The relative density of CSS cover influences gnatcatcher territory sizes, with territory sizes
increasing as shrub cover decreases, likely due to limited resource availability.
Regional
In San Diego County, the core population areas capable of supporting 30 or more pairs of
coastal California gnatcatcher
include Camp Pendleton/Fallbrook,
Oceanside, north Carlsbad,
southeast Carlsbad, southwest San
Marcos,
Rainbow/Pala,
Olivenhain/Lake Hodges/San
Pasqual, Poway, upper San Diego
River/El Capitan Reservoir, Mission
Trails Regional Park/Miramar,
Lakeside/Dehesa, Sweetwater
River/Reservoir, Jamal Mountains
Otay Lakes/Mesa, west Otay
Mountain, and Tijuana River mouth
(Unitt 2004).
FIGURE 3-13.
CALIFORNIA GNATCATCHER
LOCATIONS
MCBCP
On Camp Pendleton, the coastal
California gnatcatcher’s distribution
is basewide primarily within CSS
habitat (94% of territories are in
areas that burned ten years or more
Chapter 3 – Natural Resources 3-43