Hawks
Aloft, Inc.
Conservation, Avian Research,
and Education
PO Box 10028 - Albuquerque, NM 87184 -
(505) 828-9455
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Cave/Cliff/Rock Description, importance and conservation status: Cliff/Cave/Rock habitat is probably better described as a sub-habitat. It occurs wherever rock is found, throughout the state. Areas above treeline are excluded from this designation and included under alpine tundra. Small caves are found throughout the state. Large cavern openings are rare and are mainly found in the Guadalupe Escarpment, especially at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in Eddy County. Carlsbad Caverns provide nesting habitat for the majority of the state’s Cave Swallows. Rocky outcroppings may exist anywhere and even small areas may provide habitat for breeding Rock Wrens. In northern New Mexico, these areas are often free of snow in winter, providing foraging areas for species such as longspurs in grassland areas or Rosy-Finches at higher elevations. Cliffs need not be very tall for birds such as Canyon Wrens. Golden Eagles may nest at 180 ft. or higher above the ground (Hawks Aloft, unpub. data). Steep-sided cliffs with ledges for nest sites or scrapes that allow little or no access from the ground are key components of raptor nesting cliffs. Owners/managers of these habitats constitute almost all types in the state. Impacts to these habitats include 1) mining operations, 2) development and 3) flyovers by low-flying aircraft. Physiographic Areas covered: Mexican Highlands, Chihuahuan Desert, Colorado Plateau, Mogollon Rim, Pecos and Staked Plains, Southern Rocky Mountains Associated Priority Species from Appendices 1 and 2: Cave/Cliff/Rock Table 1.
Bird Habitat Requirements, Population and/or Habitat Objectives: (in taxonomic order) Prairie Falcon (Steenhof 1998) Associated Species: Western Kingbird, Horned Lark, Eastern Meadowlark, Western Meadowlark open grasslands and shrub-grasslands most common nest sites are ledges or cavities in cliffs or bluffs availability of appropriate nest sites can be highly limiting ground squirrels are important breeding season food source; Horned Larks and meadowlarks in non-breeding season may be outcompeted for nesting sites when Peregrine Falcon is present (D. Cleary pers. comm.) Distribution: Found in appropriate habitat, especially in areas near cliffs, statewide. Population and/or Habitat Objectives: in the West, T = -2.7%, p = 0.11, N = 97, RA = 0.12 (Sauer et al. 1997) keep population at estimated level in 1975 of 293-406 pairs (Platt 1975) limit human activity to a minimum of 410ft (125m) from known nests (Holthuijzen et al. 1990); preferably 0.62mi (1km) (Suter and Joness 1981) reduce or eliminate overgrazing in areas within 4-24mi (7-38km) (Steenhof 1998) of known nesting sites. Sheet erosion and plant cover associated with overgrazing limits food for ground squirrels (Platt 1974)
Peregrine Falcon (NMPIF) Associated Species: Golden Eagle, White-throated Swift, Common Raven, Canyon Wren Breeds on relatively tall cliffs in New Mexico often found in remote areas free from much human disturbance feeds primarily on waterfowl when available; in drier areas will use doves, meadowlarks and other birds Distribution: Found in western New Mexico east to the Sangre de Cristo, Sandia/Manzano and Sacramento mountains. Population and/or Habitat Objectives: no BBS data available maintain 2.14 productivity rates until occupany of known territories increases (Johnson 1998) increase occupied known territories to 85% in any given year by 2019, after which a productivity rate of 1.45 young per adult pair should be maintained (Johnson 1998) limit insecticide use to lowest feasible levels and encourage crops that do not need extensive insecticide control continue a ban on falconry harvesting until population has stabilized for five years Cave Swallow (West 1998) Associated Species: None in New Mexico, largest colony nests in caverns; recent discoveries of colonies in southern Dona Ana county are under low bridges over irrigation ditches. open foraging areas generally near water are critical foraging often occurs within 6.2mi (10km) of nesting area nests in caves placed in the "twilight zone"; often in solution pockets or other cavities minimal height for nests in culverts is 3.28ft (1m) above ground and 1ft (0.3m) from the ceiling structure; often in areas where daylight approximates the "twilight zone" in caves Distribution: Found at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and in the Mesilla Valley south of Las Cruces; may be spreading north in the Mesilla Valley. Population and/or Habitat Objectives: no BBS data available maintain or increase numbers of birds at Carlsbad Caverns reduce use of pesticides through education in surrounding agricultural areas Canyon Wren (Jones and Dieni 1995) Associated Species: Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, White-throated Swift, Rock Wren uses crevices and interstices in cliffs, steep canyon walls, rocky areas; occasionally high, steep river banks vertical component is critical nests in crevices, caverns, cliffs or occasionally banks, usually with a protective overhanging element not associated with any particular vegetative community occurs up to approximately 9000 ft in elevation diet consists of seeds and insects blown into rock crevices Distribution: Found throughout the state whereever tall vertical walls are present. Much less common in the Pecos and Staked Plains. Population and/or Habitat Objectives: in NM, T = -11.2%, p = 0.30, N = 11, RA = 0.13 (Sauer et al. 1997) limit grazing in areas adjacent to nesting areas, both below and above canyon walls Overall Habitat Strategies: 1. Maintain the integrity of bluffs and cliffs. Maintain at least a 200 ft. buffer zone near cliff faces and rock outcropping. 2. In reclamation of mining areas: replace rocky outcroppings with reconstituted boulders/stones to create artificial rocky areas for perches. Research and monitoring needs: 1. Continue monitoring of Peregrine Falcon in the state. 2. Estimate current numbers of breeding pairs of Prairie Falcon in the state. 3. Determine extent to which pesticide use in agricultural areas affects reproductive success in Cave Swallow in New Mexico.
Cave/Cliff/Rock Table 2.
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Hawks Aloft, Inc.