Wildlife Specialist report

Canyon; and Seco Creek. This species has habitat on all Ranger Districts of the Gila
National Forest.
Red-Naped Sapsucker [(Sphyrapicus nuchalis)/NM Partners In Flight High
Priority Species Representative of High Elevation Riparian Habitat Cover Types] -
This species breeds in deciduous and mixed woodlands including aspen groves in open
ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests, aspen-fir parklands, logged forests where
deciduous groves remain, aspen groves in open rangeland, birch groves, montane
coniferous forests and, occasionally, subalpine forest edges and residential gardens from
300 to 3,000 m elevation (Birds of North America Online Resource, 2010). Red-naped
Sapsuckers are not found breeding in oak or oak-pine forests or on edge of woodlands
(Birds of North America Online Resource, 2010). They are often associated with
willow (used for creating sap wells) (Birds of North America Online Resource, 2010).
This species prefers mature deciduous forest, especially aspens and may use coniferous
riparian woodland often associated with aspen (NM Partners In Flight Online Resource,
2010). This species prefers older stands, often old-growth, with openings (NM Partners
In Flight Online Resource, 2010). The nest trees they use are generally aspens infected
with Phellinus ignarius, averaging 9.2 inches (24centimeters) dbh and 9.5 feet
(31meters) in height (NM Partners In Flight Online Resource, 2010). The male does
most of cavity nest excavation while the female often sits at the cavity entrance and
may preen while the male is away. In some cases, each member of the pair excavates
in separate trees and each may start several cavities before one site is finally selected.
The female’s participation in excavation increases as the season progresses, and
construction can occur any time between dawn and dusk (Birds of North America
Online Resource, 2010). The period of excavation varies from 6 days to 2-4 weeks
(Birds of North America Online Resource, 2010). The eggs are laid on a bed of wood
chips created by pecking the sides and the bottom of the cavity (Birds of North America
Online Resource, 2010). In New Mexico they are regular breeders, and Red-naped
sapsuckers are fairly common summer residents that breed in Gila National Forest
(Zimmerman, 1995) (BISON-M 2010). This species was recorded nesting along
Negrito Creek in 2009 on the Reserve Ranger District and in the town of Mogollon on
the Glenwood Ranger District of the GNF by wildlife biologists (Justin Schofer,
Personal Communication, 2010).
Neotropic cormorant (Forest Service Sensitive Species Representative of Lake
Habitat) - Neotropic cormorants nest near or over water, in vegetation such as dead
snags or trees. Nesting Neotropic Cormorants require stands of trees or shrubs in or near
water and that are free from human disturbance (BISON-M 2009). In New Mexico,
cormorants are generally found on larger bodies of water such as reservoirs, where they
prey on fish--probably mainly "rough" species in New Mexico (BISON-M 2009). They
swim and dive readily, drying their wings in spread-eagle posture outside the water
(BISON-M 2009). Cormorants fly in level flight, forming V's or lines when in flocks.
Water depths in areas frequented by the Neotropic Cormorant tend, perhaps, to be
somewhat shallower than those occupied by the Double-crested Cormorant (Bison M
2009). The expanse of open water is probably a major stimulus in attracting these birds
(BISON-M 2009). The Neotropic Cormorant reaches its northernmost breeding limits in
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