Biodiversity of the Moodna Creek Watershed - Orange County Water ...

Appendix A. Flagship Species of the Moodna Creek Watershed
The following wildlife species represent the diversity of habitats in the Moodna Creek watershed. In many cases, conservation of these species will
contribute to conservation of other plants and animals with similar habitat needs. Information on recommended habitat and buffer sizes, important
temporal considerations, and additional conservation concerns are included. (Note that many of these species use a complex of different habitats, in
addition to the priority habitat group listed here.)
Common Name
Priority Habitat
Group
Habitat Needs
Conservation Considerations
American woodcock
Scolopax minor
Grassland,
Shrubland, and
Farmland
While woodcocks are considered a resident of Woodcock decline is attributed to loss of early-successional
forests, where they forage for earthworms and habitat from changes in forest structure, fire suppression, and
nest in young, early-successional woodlands, shifts in agricultural practices. Management may be necessary
they also require open field habitats. Nighttime to maintain the habitat complex needed for woodcock:
roosting occurs in nearby old fields, at least 1 shrublands or young forests with moist productive soils, second
ac (0.4 ha) in size, and woodcocks engage in growth hardwoods for nesting, and openings or fields for
courtship in shrublands and old fields in early singing grounds and night roosting. Nesting and fledgling
spring.
activity occurs from March through August.
Bobolink
Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Grassland,
Shrubland, and
Farmland
Grassland birds, including the bobolink, are threatened by
habitat loss due to development, changes in agricultural
practices, and the return of grassland to forest. While bobolink
Breeds in open grasslands and hay fields. has one of the smallest area requirements for successful
Bobolink will breed in grasslands of 10-75 breeding, other grassland species need larger areas and have
acres (4-30 ha), but larger areas are better and varying requirements for open patches, density of vegetation,
are more likely to support other specis of etc. Where possible, restoration or conservation of grasslands
grassland birds that have greater habitat of at least 100 acres (40 ha) is encouraged, with management
requirements.
appropriate to the breeding species present on the site.
Grassland birds are ground-nesters; mowing activity should be
restricted during the breeding season. Bobolink nesting and
fledgling activity occurs from May through July.
Timber rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus
Cliffs and Caves
Mountainous or hilly deciduous or mixed
forests, often with rocky outcroppings, steep
ledges, and rock slides. Dens, or hibernacula,
are often located on south-facing slopes, in
talus or rock fractures that provide retreats for
overwintering. Rattlesnakes use open canopy,
rocky areas for basking, shedding, gestating,
and birthing. Foraging areas are generally
located within forested habitat surrounding the
den, but may also include old fields and
wetlands.
Timber rattlesnakes emerge from winter dens in April or early
May, and return to den areas in mid-September, with most
snakes in the hibernacula by late October. During their active
months, rattlesnakes can travel great distances and use large
areas of habitat, traveling 3300-7900 ft (1000-2400 m) to
forage, bask, breed, nest, and hibernate. Illegal collection and
and unnecessary killing are serious threats to the species.
Increasing habitat fragmentation from development is also a
concern, and may increase the likelihood of human-snake
interactions.