environmental assessment us border patrol, tucson sector

3-15123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445461975). Hares and rabbits commonly seen in the project area include black-tailed jackrabbit(Lepus californicus) and desert cottontail (Sylvilagus auduboni) (Findley et al. 1975).Birds typically associated with Chihuahuan desertscrub that are expected to occur in the projectarea include red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), Swainson’s hawk (Buteo swainsoni),American kestrel (Falco sparverius), Gambel’s quail (Callipepla gambelii), scaled quail(Callipepla squamata), western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), Chihuahuan raven (Corvuscryptoleucus), loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), greater roadrunner (Geocoxxyxcalifornianus), cactus wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus), great-tailed grackle (Quiscalusmexicanus), and numerous passerine species (Peterson and Zimmer 1998).A wide variety of reptiles and amphibians can be found associated with Chihuahuan desertscrub.Many common species of amphibians could be found in the project area, including spadefoottoads (Scaphiopus spp.) and the western spadefoot toad (Spea multiplicata). Common reptilesinclude many lizard species, such as whiptail lizard (Aspidoscelis spp.), side-blotched lizard (Utastansburiana), greater earless lizard (Cophosaurus texanus), round-tailed horned lizard(Phrynosoma modestum), ornate tree lizard (Urosaurus ornata), and several species of spinylizard (Sceloporus spp.). Approximately 36 species of snakes have been known to occur near orwithin the project area. These snakes include western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox),prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis), glossy snake (Arizona elegans), Sonoran gopher snake(Pituophis melanoleucus), Trans-Pecos ratsnake (Bogertophis subocularis), western groundsnake (Sonora semiannulata), and night snake (Hypsiglena torquata). The most common turtlefound in the Chihuahuan desertscrub is the desert box turtle (Terrepene ornate luteola) (Stebbins2003).3.6.1.1 Preferred AlternativeWildlife species observed at the Preferred Alternative site during the May 4, 2011 surveyincluded common raven (Corvus corax), canyon towhee (Pipilo fuscus), red-tailed hawk, blackthroatedsparrow (Amphispiza bilineata), tiger whiptail lizard (Aspidoscelis tigris), and elegantearless lizard (Holbrookia elegans).3.6.1.2 Alternative 2Animal species noted during the Alternative 2 site visit included black-tailed jack rabbit, blackthroatedsparrow, canyon towhee, tiger whiptail lizard, and elegant earless lizard. Several badgerburrows were also observed at the Alternative 2 site.3.6.1.3 Alternative 3Wildlife observed during the Alternative 3 site biological survey included black-tailed jackrabbit, canyon towhee, common raven, tiger whiptail lizard, and elegant earless lizard.3.6.1.4 Alternative 4A biological survey of the Alternative 4 site was conducted on May 5, 2011. Several birds wereobserved during the biological survey in and adjacent to the site, and included red-tailed hawk,red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), black-throated sparrow, mourning dove (Zenaidamacroura), white-winged dove (Zenaida asiatica), common raven, canyon towhee, Harris’shawk (Parabuteo unicinctus), Gambel’s quail, turkey vulture (Cathartes aura), cliff swallow(Petrochelidon pyrrhonota), and canyon wren (Catherpes mexicanus). A stick-built, raptor nestDouglas FOB EADraftAugust 2011