| Gila-Cliff Area | |
| Status: | Identified | Area: | 6400 acres (2590 hectares) |
| County: | Grant | Elevation: | 4500 feet (1370 meters) |
| Town: | Silver City | Location: | 32°58’N, 108°34’W |
| Ownership | Gila National Forest, 3005 Camino del Bosque,
Silver City, NM, 88061, 505-388-8201 The Nature Conservancy, Peter Russell, 1113 N. West Street, Silver City, NM, 88061, 505-538-9111 David Ogilvie, manager U Bar Ranch, Box 10, Gila, NM 88038, 505-535-2811 |
| Habitats | Forest (riparian), Wetlands (river), Rocky areas |
| Land-use | Nature conservation, Rangeland, Farming |
| Threats | Fire, Grazing, Invasive species, Water management, Development |
| Site Criteria | State conservation species (D1), State species in rare/unique habitat (D3), State outstanding landbird stopover (D4vii), State research site (D5) |
| Site Description | The entire Gila River system in New
Mexico provides one of the highest
breeding bird concentrations in North America including rare species such as the Gila
Woodpecker and the threatened Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. The Gila River
supports an astonishing array of plant and animal life. In the river are found
several fish, including the loach minnow and spikedace, which are listed
federally as threatened. The largest known population
of Southwestern Willow Flycatchers is found on the U Bar Ranch (private land)
that is grazed and farmed. Box elder, cottonwood, willow, and introduced
russian olive form the Gila’s riparian habitat and gallery woodland. The
Gila River is the last of the southwest's major free-flowing rivers. The area includes the Gila River Valley from upper Gila Box downstream to old iron bridge approximately 300 meters downstream of US 180 bridge. Much of upstream end is Nature Conservancy property and/or Gila National Forest (includes much of Mogollon Creek). There is a variety of private ownership downstream - predominately Phelps Dodge/U-Bar Ranch. Upstream areas include much sycamore dominated riparian; downstream where flood plane is wider, cottonwood-willow-box elder-ash with younger areas of willow-seep willow. Some mature riparian woodlands on U-Bar Ranch have canopies over 40 meters tall. |
| Birds | Species present include Zone-tailed Hawk,
Common Black-Hawk, Gambel’s Quail, Lesser Nighthawk, Common Poorwill,
Elf Owl, Acorn Woodpecker, Western Wood Pewee, Vermillion Flycatcher,
Ash-throated Flycatcher, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Bridled Titmouse, Townsend’s Solitaire,
Mexican Jay, Lucy’s Warbler, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Summer and Western
Tanager, and Bullock’s Oriole. During the Gila River Christmas Counts, small
numbers of species of conservation concern are found. These include Wood
Duck, Northern Goshawk, Peregrine and Prairie Falcons, Lewis's Woodpecker, Dusky
Flycatcher, Verdin, Crissal Thrasher, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, and Black-chinned
Sparrow. Large populations of several threatened and endangered species include the largest population of Southwest Willow Flycatcher. There are also numerous species of conservation concern such as Lucy's Warbler and Summer Tanager. Data from 1997-9 indicate the highest densities of non-colonial breeding birds in North America. Additional Data: Summer Tanager (B), 1997-2000 - maximum=0.9 pair/hectare Western Bluebird (B, W), 1997-1999 - 1000s in the winter Plumbeous Vireo (B) - average=0.1 pair/hectare |
| Conservation Issues | Agricultural areas are being invaded by yellow
star-thistle. The ranch is investigating non-herbicidal treatments. Because of levees constructed by the Corp of Engineers in the 50/60s, the river has become incised and high water events cause erosion rather than overbank flooding. Ranch and NF have addressed some areas with natural bank stabilization techniques. Potential for development and concomitant disturbance as property values increase in area. |
| Conservation Plan | |
| Monitor(s) | None assigned. |
| Nominator | Scott H. Stoleson, 2205 Columbia SE, Albuquerque, NM, 87106, 505-766-1047 |
| Sources | Stoleson and Finch unpublished data (S&F) D. Zimmerman personal communication (DZ) R. Shook personal communication and unpublished data (RS) Christmas Bird Count [NMGR] 1995-2004 (CBC) Annual May Gila River Count (GRC) |
| Links |
U Bar Ranch The Nature Conservancy New Mexico Christmas Bird Count NM GR Gila National Forest eBird New Mexico Hot Spot |
| Directions | Take US-180 northwest from Silver City to the villages of Cliff and Gila. NM-211/293 runs along the north side of the Gila River to the Gila Preserve. NM-211/153 runs along the south side of the Gila River. |
| Species | Year | Status | Population | Sources | Criteria |
| Abert's Towhee |
97-00 95-04 |
Resident Winter |
0.15 pair/hectare 2 individuals average, 4 individuals maximum |
D1 | |
| Bald Eagle | 94-00 95-04 |
Winter Winter |
4-8 individuals 10 individuals average, 12 individuals maximum |
CBC |
D1 |
| Brewer's Sparrow | 95-04 | Winter | 160 individuals average, 575 individuals maximum | CBC | D1 |
| Brown-crested Flycatcher | 97-00 | Breeding | 0.2 pair/hectare | D1 | |
| Common Black-Hawk | 97-00 | Breeding | 30 pair average | D1 | |
| Common Ground Dove | 97-00 | Breeding | 2-5 individuals | D1 | |
| Elf Owl | 97-00 | Breeding | 5-8 pair | D1 | |
| Ferruginous Hawk | 95-04 | Winter | 5 individuals average, 10 individuals maximum | CBC | D1 |
| Gambel's Quail |
97-00 95-04 |
Resident Winter |
20 pair/hectare 159 individuals average, 337 individuals maximum |
CBC |
D1 |
| Gila Woodpecker |
97-00 95-04 |
Resident Winter |
4-10 pairs 5 individuals average, 13 individuals maximum |
CBC |
D1 |
| Green-tailed Towhee | 95-04 | Winter | 4 individuals average, 8 individuals maximum | CBC | D1 |
| Lucy's Warbler | 97-00 | Breeding | 2.5 pair/hectare | D1 | |
| Mountain Bluebird | 95-04 | Winter | 57 individuals average, 276 individuals maximum | CBC | D1 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 97-00 | Resident | 1-3 individuals | D1 | |
| Piñon Jay | 95-04 | Winter | 67 individuals average, 240 individuals maximum | CBC | D1 |
| Red-naped Sapsucker | 95-04 | Winter | 10 individuals average, 16 individuals maximum | CBC | D1 |
| Sandhill Crane | 95-04 | Winter | 229 individuals average, 377 individuals maximum | CBC | D4iii |
| Savannah Sparrow | 95-04 | Winter | 160 individuals average, 575 individuals maximum | CBC | D1 |
| Townsend's Solitaire | 95-04 | Winter | 9 individuals average, 33 individuals maximum | CBC | D1 |
| Western Bluebird | 95-04 | Winter | 185 individuals average, 313 individuals maximum | CBC | D1 |
| Willow Flycatcher | 94-00 | Breeding | 200 pair average, 243 pair maximum | D1 | |
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo | 97-00 | Breeding | 60-80 pair average, 0.35 pair/hectare maximum | D1 | |
| Zone-tailed Hawk | 97-00 | Breeding | D1 |
