United States Department of Agriculture Ecology and Conservation Forest Service Rocky Mountain of the Cactus Ferruginous Research Station General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-43 Pygmy-Owl in Arizona January 2000 Abstract ____________________________________ Cartron, Jean-Luc E.; Finch, Deborah M., tech. eds. 2000. Ecology and conservation of the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl in Arizona. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-43. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 68 p. This report is the result of a cooperative effort by the Rocky Mountain Research Station and the USDA Forest Service Region 3, with participation by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Bureau of Land Management. It assesses the state of knowledge related to the conservation status of the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl in Arizona. The population decline of this owl has been attributed to the loss of riparian areas before and after the turn of the 20th century. Currently, the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl is chiefly found in southern Arizona in xeroriparian vegetation and well- structured upland desertscrub. The primary threat to the remaining pygmy-owl population appears to be continued habitat loss due to residential development. Important information gaps exist and prevent a full understanding of the current population status of the owl and its conservation needs. Fort Collins Service Center Telephone (970) 498-1392 FAX (970) 498-1396 E-mail rschneider/
[email protected] Web site http://www.fs.fed.us/rm Mailing Address Publications Distribution Rocky Mountain Research Station 240 W. Prospect Road Fort Collins, CO 80526-2098 Cover photo—Clockwise from top: photograph of fledgling in Arizona by Jean-Luc Cartron, photo- graph of adult ferruginous pygmy-owl in Arizona by Bob Miles, photograph of adult cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl in Texas by Glenn Proudfoot.