| Mitigation
of Road Design for Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-owls |
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Background:
The need for more efficient transportation
corridors within northwest Tucson and southern
Pinal County necessitates consultation
with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(FWS) because most of the transportation
corridors pass through critical habitat
for the Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-owl (Glaucidium
brasilianum cactorum). The influence of
practices such as land development (commercial
and residential), road construction and
maintenance, recreation, and livestock
grazing on habitat selection and habitat
availability for this subspecies are poorly
understood, as is much of its general life
history. The conservation of biologically
connected patches of landscapes systems
is essential for the protection of a species.
It is important that we identify current
and potential barriers (e.g., roads) so
that habitat links among local populations
can be preserved. The purpose of this study
is to provide the necessary information
on how pygmy-owls use habitat associated
with roadways.
Location:
Sonoran scrub and mesquite grassland deserts
of southern Arizona.
Approach:
 A
standardized survey protocol currently approved
by the FWS is used to locate pygmy-owls during
their breeding season (February - June). Pygmy-owl
territories that have a wide variety of road
types near their nest sites are chosen as study
subjects. Adult and juvenile pygmy-owls nesting
near roads are fitted with a backpack style,
1.85 g radio transmitter. Each bird is monitored
to determine location, movements and behavior
of the bird, with special attention paid to
the distance flown between successive perches
and the location where a bird flies across
a road. The structure and composition of vegetation
around perch structures used by pygmy-owls
on either side of road is measured.
Benefits:
The lack of pertinent information regarding the impact road construction
has on the viability of this federally endangered owl may lead to delays
in construction due to the lack of information on potential mitigation.
Studying how these owls use habitat near roadways (for example, habitat
characteristics where pygmy-owls cross roads, how far will pygmy-owls cross
open pavement, do pygmy-owls avoid roads with certain traffic volumes,
etc.) will allow us to make credible management recommendations. The knowledge
gathered from this study will provide information that will allow aid in
designing road improvements that have minimal impact to pygmy-owls.
For more information
contact:
Michael Ingraldi, Ph.D., Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5000 W. Carefree Highway Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000
.
Phone: (928) 523-5625 E-mail: mingraldi@cybertrails.com
Dennis Abbate, Arizona Game and Fish Department, 5000 W. Carefree Highway Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000
.
Phone: (520) 742-1911 E-mail: dabbate@gf.state.az.us
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