Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Inventory at Carlsbad Caverns National Park
MacFarland JC. Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Inventory at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. 2022-2023. National Park Service
The Southwestern willow flycatcher (SWFL), Empidonax traillii extimus, is a federally listed species and has been detected at the Rattlesnake Springs unit of Carlsbad Caverns National Park (CAVE). The park needs information on occupancy of SWFL in the Rattlesnake Springs Unit to incorporate into a future integrated planning document. CAVE needs to know where SWFL territories are and how they need to change planned management and activities based on SWFL presence. There are timing restrictions for mowing activities in nesting and foraging habitat from April 1-Sept 1. There are also noise limits and time of day restrictions. Other activities that require mitigation are invasive exotic and hazard fuels treatments, tree trimming and maintenance of the cultural landscape in the historic district. Mitigations apply when mowing or similar activities are happening within a 1⁄4 mile of any nests or territories. In 2022, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Surveys and Intensive 10-minute Point Count Surveys for all bird species were conducted on July 6, 2022 and July 12, 2022 in Rattlesnake Springs area within Carlsbad Caverns National Park and The Nature Conservancy’s Rattlesnake Springs Preserve. Two Tucson Audubon staff members conducted these surveys and are both permitted by USFWS to conduct the official USFWS Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Survey Protocol. One hundred sixty-five Southwestern Willow Flycatcher call-back protocol point counts were conducted with zero detections. The Arizona Important Bird Areas Intensive Point Count Protocol for 10-minute surveys for all bird species detected a total of 31 species with 8 additional species detected by surveyors between point counts. In 2023, USFWS Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Surveys and Intensive 10-minute Point Count Surveys for all bird species were conducted on May 15, June 5, June 13, June 27, and July 10, 2023. Four Tucson Audubon staff members conducted these surveys and all were permitted by USFWS to conduct the official USFWS Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Survey Protocol. Five hundred nineteen Southwestern Willow Flycatcher call-back protocol point counts were conducted with positive detections on June 5, 2023 (one bird), June 13, 2023 (two birds, likely pair) and June 27, 2023 (three birds, 1 pair and a single). The all-species 10-minute Intensive Point Count Protocol detected a total of 58 species with 3 additional species detected by surveyors between point counts.
- Type
- Project
- Authors
- MacFarland, Jennifer
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- CAVE
- Keywords
- IMD, National Park Service, NPS, NPS Inventory and Monitoring Division, NPS Species Inventory Program
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Birds , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | At-risk Biota | T&E Species and Communities
Program
Products
- Carlsbad Caverns National Park southwestern willow flycatcher surveys and intensive point count surveys at Rattlesnake Springs, 2022 and 2023: Final report
- Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Inventory at Carlsbad Caverns National Park 2022-2023 - Open Format Dataset (sensitive version)
- Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Inventory at Carlsbad Caverns National Park - Dataset As Delivered
- Filling in the Gaps: Southwestern Willow Flycatcher and Other Birds Surveyed at Carlsbad Caverns National Park