Hawks Aloft, Inc.
New Mexico
Partners in Flight

Description, importance and conservation status:

This habitat type is found only in the Animas and Peloncillo Mountains in Hidalgo County. It is part of the "Madrean Sky Islands" and corresponds to the habitat of the same name in Arizona (AZ PIF).

This habitat is defined by Chihuahua pine (Pinus leiophylla) and Arizona white oak (Quercus arizonica). Mean annual precipitation is 22 inches per year. Mean annual temperature is 52 degrees. Elevations range from 5000 to 7000 feet.

Associated trees in this type include emory (Q. emoryi), netleaf (Q. rubosa) and silverleaf oak (Q. hypoleucoides). Associated conifers include border pinyon (P. discolor) and alligator juniper (J. deppeana). Some common shrubs are manzanita (Arctostaphylos pungens), yuccas (Yucca spp.), agave (Agave spp.), beargrass (Nolina microcarpa) and wright silktassel (Garrya wrightii). Herbs include bullgrass (Muhlenbergia emersleyi), mutton grass (Poa fendleriana), sedge (Carex sp.), beggartick grass (Aristid orcuttiana), pinyon ricegrass (Piptochaetium fimbriatum), bluestems (Schizachyrium spp.), and pennyroyal (Hedeoma spp.)

Principal influences in this habitat are fire, grazing, fuelwood cutting, road-building, and mining. Fire has been largely suppressed since the 1880's, concurrent with the advent of large-scale grazing. A study of this type of forest in Arizona concluded that low intensity fires had burned some part of a 215-acre forest plot in 67 different years over a hundred-year period (Ganey et al. 1996 in Ffolliott et al. 1996). Fires can be expected to encourage oak and juniper growth and enhance germination of such shrubs as manzanita and deerbrush (Ceanothus sp.). Chihuahua Pine, in particular, is a fire-adapted species and shows shade tolerance in an understory of oaks and junipers (Dick-Peddie 1993). It appears that the presence of Chihuahua pine signifies a climax forest. Long-term, year-long and rotation-pasture grazing has reduced the palatable herbaceous component and favors poisonous or thorny understory species such as sages (Artemisia spp.), broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae) and catclaw mimosa (Mimosa sp.). A change to these species' dominance in the understory may have influenced the production of less palatable plants and mat-forming, low grasses such as blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) (Neilson 1986).

The Buff-breasted Flycatcher was historically a breeding species in this type of New Mexico woodland. Prior to the 1990's, it was last definitely sighted in the state in 1929. The last recorded nest was reported in 1887 (Hubbard 1978). However, this species has been recently documented in this habitat in the Peloncillo Mountains several times. This species would be considered a priority species if it were to be found breeding again in the state.

The Buff-breasted Flycatcher breeds in wide mountain canyons with open growth of pines and/or oaks. Its habitat usually contains an open understory of grasses and small trees or burned forest with patches of living pines. Nesting has been documented in Arizona between 6400 and 9400 feet. Optimal habitat has a gradual slope and canopy cover of about 20% above 33ft (10m) and <10% cover below 16ft (5m). Typical canopy trees are pines of medium-age or older. The understory should have 198-210 small oaks per acre (80-85 per hectare). These forest patches should be >492ft (150m) wide (Bowers and Dunning 1994). Management for this species may return it to the regular breeding avifauna of the state.

Additionally, the Gould's subspecies of Wild Turkey resides in the Peloncillo Mountains. This New Mexico state Threatened and Endangered Species is found nowhere else in the state. The population currently appears stable.

This habitat is managed or owned by private land-owners in the Animas Mountains, primarily by the Animas Foundation. Portions of the Peloncillo Mountains are also managed by the Animas Foundation. Other sections are managed by the U.S. Forest Service or by other private land-owners.

Physiographic Areas covered: Mexican Highlands.

Associated priority species from Appendices B and C:

Table 1. Madrean Pine-Oak Priority Species

Highest Priority	Priority	High Responsibility
Montezuma Quail Whiskered Screech-Owl Elegant Trogon Strickland's Woodpecker Black-throated Gray Warbler	Zone-tailed Hawk Elf Owl Whip-poor-will Western Bluebird Grace's Warbler	Ash-throated Flycatcher Cassin's Kingbird Mexican Jay Bridled Titmouse Juniper Titmouse Hepatic Tanager
Additional Representative Species: Hutton's Vireo

Bird Habitat Requirements, Population and/or Habitat Objectives:
(in taxonomic order)

Montezuma Quail _{(Hagelin 1998)}

Associated Species: Acorn Woodpecker, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cassin's Kingbird, Hutton's Vireo, Bridled Titmouse, Canyon Towhee, Black-chinned Sparrow

open oak or pine-oak woodland areas with an understory of grassland savanna in foothills and montane areas between 5000 and 10,000 feet
needs grass cover taller than 1ft (0.3m)
prefers areas containing 70% or more tall grass cover, cannot survive in areas having only 40-50% grass cover
nutsedge tubers and wood sorrel bulbs are key component of diet

Distribution: Found in the Mexican Highlands, the Mogollon Rim including up to the Magdalena mountains and in the Colorado Plateau north to the Sacramento and Capitan mountains.

Population and/or Habitat Objectives:

no BBS data available
maintain appropriate habitat in known areas of occurrence
maintain continued prescence in the Sacramentos, Guadalupes in the Colorado Plateau, the Mogollon Rim and Mexican Highlands
develop additional habitat within the Mogollon Rim and Colorado Plateau to increase estimated population by 10% in 2009
insitute grazing regimes that allow for retention of a mosaic of patches with one-foot high tall grasses

Whiskered Screech-Owl _{(Williams 1999)}

Associated Species: Northern Pygmy-Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Whip-poor-will, Acorn Woodpecker, Buff-breasted Flycatcher, Cassin's Kingbird, Mexican Jay, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Hepatic Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak

dense pine-oak woodlands favoring oak riparian areas in mountain canyons
nests often on north-facing slopes in oaks from 17-23 ft (56-75m) high
a secondary cavity nester; highly dependent upon appropriate nesting cavities
may use nest boxes (NMPIF)

Distribution: Currently found only in 5 canyons in the Peloncillo Mountains.

Population and/or Habitat Objectives:

no BBS data available
maintain populations at 1996 levels of 11 pair in the Peloncillo Mountains (Williams 1999)
when performing prescribed burns, ask for locations of nest trees before burning. Avoid burning nest trees when possible.

Elegant Trogon _{(Kunzmann et al. 1998)}

Associated Species: Zone-tailed Hawk, Elf Owl, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Hepatic Tanager, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Magnificent Hummingbird, Strickland's Warbler

in New Mexico, riparian Arizona Sycamore- and oak-dominated system with a slope component
sycamores, pine, and oak are critical habitat components in New Mexico (NMPIF)
needs larger stem trees
increased abundance associated with Strickland’s Woodpecker and Dusky-capped Flycatcher
surface water may be important
a cavity nester, in either live or dead trees, most often in sycamores, sometimes nests in oaks or pines

Distribution: Currently found only in the Peloncillo Mountains

Population and/or Habitat Objectives:

no BBS data available
maintain current population in the Peloncillo mountains
limit drawdown of water table in nesting canyons. A high water table is critical for sycamore rejuvenation
maintain snags and larger trees in oak and oak/sycamore canyons
enhance sycamore habitat on the Arizona portion of the Peloncillos

Strickland's Woodpecker _{(Williams 1999)}

Associated Species: Zone-tailed Hawk, Common Poorwill, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Mexican Jay, Grace's Warbler, Hepatic Tanager

pine-oak woodlands
often found in riparian areas in mountain canyons
nests in cavities

Distribution: Found only in the Peloncillo and Animas mountains of New Mexico

Population and/or Habitat Objectives:

no BBS data available
maintain or enhance habitat in the Mexican Highlands to maintain current estimated 10 pair in the state (NM PIF)

Hutton's Vireo _{(Davis 1995)}

Associated Species: Whip-poor-will, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Bridled Titmouse, Bewick's Wren, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Black-headed Grosbeak

uses pine-oak forests and woodlands dominated by evergreen oaks; high degree of closed canopy and a moderate to dense understory
nests are built at end of branches and are suspended from them usually with a concealing overhang of leaves
nest trees are generally oaks with an average nest height above ground of 15ft (4.9m)
often chooses trees about 2-3 trees in from clearing edges, occasionally over streams
may prefer areas with a disturbed understory for foraging

Distribution: Found in the southwestern quadrant of the state as far north and east as the Black Range. May occasionally breed in the Organ mountains in Dona Ana County.

Population and/or Habitat Objectives:

in the West, T = 1.3%, p = 0.32, N = 130, RA=0.66 (Sauer et al. 1997) NOTE: Most of the routes from which this trend is determined are in California
maintain clearings in closed canopy evergreen oak woodlands
prescribed burns are probably not beneficial to this species, so manage fires to burn in a mosaic pattern through this habitat

Mexican Jay _{(Brown 1994)}

Associated Species: Wild Turkey, Juniper Titmouse, Bridled Titmouse, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Black-headed Grosbeak, Spotted Towhee

resident in pine-oak forests with a juniper component
depends on pinyon and acorns for winter diet
territories depend on riparian areas only when oaks follow these corridors down into grasslands
forages mostly on the ground
76% of nests are in Emory and Arizona oak or alligator juniper. Nests generally located in top half of trees ranging from 12-80ft (3.7-24.4m) with an average height of 27ft (9.1m)
territories along a 9.5mi (15.4km) section of creek averaged 0.36mi (0.58km) but extended out to surrounding slopes
territories remain essentially the same throughout the years even though individuals may change
development within a territory permanently destroys that territory

Distribution: Found in the Mogollon Rim and the Mexican Highlands west of the Black Range and south of Reserve and Luna.

Population and/or Habitat Objectives:

no BBS data available
limit development within known Mexican Jay territories

Black-throated Gray Warbler _{(Guzy and Lowther 1997)}

Associated Species: Elf Owl, Plumbeous Vireo, Juniper Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Bewick's Wren, Western Bluebird, Black-headed Grosbeak

prefers large stands of oak-dominated woodland with some juniper
often found in dense forests with a canopy
understory can be variable
uses edges: tree/shrub or tree/grass

Distribution: Found throughout the state in appropriate habitat. Very few are in the Pecos and Staked Plains.

Population and/or Habitat Objectives:

in Region 2, T = 2.5%, p = 0.29, N = 22, RA=0.74; in the Mogollon Rim, T = 3.2%, p = 0.59, N = 20, RA=0.74 (Sauer et al. 1997)
maintain older-growth oak-juniper areas with some clearings and grassy or shrubby understory
maintain a density of 10 pair per 100ac in appropriate habitat in the Mexican Highlands (AZ PIF)

Overall Habitat Strategies:

Fire

Cool Fires are characterized by low flames (2-3 ft. high). They generally do not kill oaks. Shrubs are often reduced in height but not in density. Grass cover is reduced but recovers quickly, sometimes within two years. These types of fires were probably regular in this habitat until fire suppression in these forests became a management goal. Allowing fire likely favors snag nesters such as Whiskered Screech-Owl and Strickland's Woodpecker in the long-term, but snag nesters may show an initial decline following a fire (Ganey et al.1996). Open-forest bird species such as Cassin's Kingbird, Western Bluebird, and Chipping Sparrow will probably increase (Ganey et al.1996). Ground-nesting species such as Montezuma Quail and Wild Turkey, or those preferring denser forests such as Elf Owl and Black-throated Gray Warbler, will probably decline in the short term (Ganey et al. 1996).

Hot Fires are often stand-replacing fires, sterilizing the soils and destroying habitat for many species. They burn overstory trees and are costly to fight. Recovery of bird populations in high-intensity burns can be delayed (Johnson and Wauer in Ganey et al. 1996). However, these fires may not be catastrophic, especially if they burn in a mosaic pattern over the landscape (Ganey et al. 1996). Cavity-nesters will probably benefit from "mosaic" fires, especially along edges of unburned areas (Ganey et al. 1996).

While frequent, cool fires are thought to be the natural fire regime in this habitat, restoring these forests to a more natural state could be difficult given the heavy fuel buildup allowed through fire suppression. Hot fires should be allowed to burn under management rather than quickly extinguishing them. Prescribed, cool fires may be the most economical and efficacious way to achieve a more natural condition. This method may cause initial declines in bird populations. Public education about the initial costs of restoring forests to a more natural condition should be undertaken. (Ganey et al. 1996)

Research and monitoring needs:

1. Determine estimated Montezuma Quail population for the state

2. Determine number of breeding Strickland's Woodpecker in the state

3. Determine combined effects of differing grazing regimes, with and without fire, on this habitat; determine the long-term effects on birds.

Additional species for which monitoring is recommended:

Gould's Wild Turkey
Whip-poor-will
Cassin's Kingbird
Juniper Titmouse

Table 2. Madrean Pine-Oak Woodland Priority Species: Habitat Factors

Species	Vegetation Composition/ Structure	Abiotic Factors	Landscape Factors	Special Factors
MZQU	open oak or pine-oak woodland; grass: 1ft or taller; of total grass coverage, 50% must be tall grass		associated with drainages when oaks follow drainages into grasslands
WHSO	dense pine oak woodlands; needs oaks from 17-23ft high	often found on north-facing slopes	favors oak riparian areas in canyons	may use nest boxes
STWO	pine-oak woodlands		often found in riparian canyons
HUVI	pine-oak woodland dominated by evergreens with high % closed canopy moderate to dense shrub canopy closure		edges of clearings needed; nests about third tree in from edge
MEJA	mature pine-oak woodland with junipers		territories may include riparian drainage
BTYW	mature pinyon-juniper oak often with closed canopy		associated with tree/shrub or tree/grass edges