Laserfiche WebLink
Very little wildlife activity was observed incidentally in the field. Great blue heron (Ardea <br />heroides) were present foraging in the Gunnison River, which was low and clear with ideal <br />foraging conditions. An individual of a passerine species was observed but positive <br />identification was not made. It was likely a dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis), a common winter <br />resident in the lower Gunnison River valley. <br />Threatened and Endangered and Birds Of Conservation Concern (BOCC) <br />As part of the protection and management of avian species, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) <br />in 2002 published a list of BOCC (FWS 2002). A subset of this list includes a register of BOCC <br />for the Southern Rockies and the Colorado Plateau, including Western Colorado. <br />Not all of these BOCC species occur regularly in Colorado, some are present only as seasonal <br />migrants. Of those known to breed in Colorado, only a portion are known or suspected to breed <br />within the vicinity of GRGP. From review of literature (Andrews and Righter 1992, Kingery <br />1998), a list of species likely to nest in the GRGP vicinity was developed. Habitat and nesting <br />records for these BOCC, as described in the Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas (Kingery 1998) and <br />Colorado Birds (Andrews and Righter 1992), are also summarized below. Bird identification <br />and taxonomic nomenclature are in accordance to those accepted by the Colorado Breeding Bird <br />Atlas Project (Kingery 1998). <br />Raptors (other than Bald Eagles) <br />Nine species of raptors appear on the BOCC species list for the Southern Rockies and the <br />Colorado Plateau. Several of the BOCC raptors, the Burrowing Owl, Ferruginous Hawk, and the <br />Short-eared Owl, are not likely to occur in the GRGP area and the Bald Eagle has been de-listed. <br />In addition to the BOCC list, other species of raptors could potentially be found nesting in the <br />GRGP area (Table 1). <br />Table 1. Raptor species including BOCC other than bald eagles that may be present in the GRGP area. <br />Common Scientilic Name BOCC Habitat & Breeding Records <br />Name <br /> <br />Cooper's Hawk Accipiter <br />N Cottonwood riparian to spruce/fir forests, including <br /> cooperii pinon/juniper woodlands. Nests most frequently in pines and <br /> aspen. <br />Red-tailed Buteo • Diverse habitats including grasslands, pinon-juniper <br />Hawk jamaicensis N woodlands and deciduous, coniferous and riparian forests. <br /> Nests in mature trees (especially cottonwood, aspen, and pines) <br /> and on cliffs and utility poles. <br />Swainson's Buteo swainsoni Y • Typically, and grassland, desert, agricultural areas, <br />Hawk shrublands and riparian forests. Nests in trees in or near open <br /> areas. <br />Golden Eagle Aquila Y Grasslands, shrublands, agricultural areas, pinon juniper <br /> chrysaetos woodlands, and ponderosa forests. Prefers nest sites on cliffs <br /> and sometimes in trees in rugged areas. <br />American Falco N Coniferous and deciduous forests and open terrain with <br />Kestrel sparverius suitable perches. Nests in cavities in trees, cliffs and buildings. <br />Gunnison River Gravel Pit Wildlife Information