Species Accounts for the Alamosa/Monte Vista/Baca National Wildlife Refuge Complex
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Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Species Accounts for the Alamosa/Monte Vista/Baca National Wildlife Refuge Complex Open-File Report 2011–1285 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey i Cover photographs: Baca National Wildlife Refuge, courtesy of Laura Ellison. ii Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Species Accounts for the Alamosa/Monte Vista/Baca National Wildlife Refuge Complex By Laura E. Ellison Open-File Report 2011–1285 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey i U.S. Department of the Interior KEN SALAZAR, Secretary U.S. Geological Survey Marcia K. McNutt, Director U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia 2011 For product and ordering information: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment: World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS Suggested citation: Ellison, L.E., 2011, Species accounts for the Alamosa/Monte Vista/Baca National Wildlife Refuge Complex: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011-1285, 195 p. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted material contained within this report. ii Contents Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................................... 1 Literature Review Methods ......................................................................................................................................... 1 Format of Report ........................................................................................................................................................ 1 Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................................................................... 2 I. American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) ........................................................................................................... 3 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 3 Natural History ........................................................................................................................................................ 4 Morphology and Systematics .............................................................................................................................. 4 Distribution .......................................................................................................................................................... 4 Migration ............................................................................................................................................................. 4 Habitat ................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Foraging Habits ................................................................................................................................................... 6 Breeding .............................................................................................................................................................. 6 Demography and Populations ............................................................................................................................. 8 Threats .................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Sources of Mortality ............................................................................................................................................. 9 Pesticides and Other Contaminants .................................................................................................................... 9 Loss and Degradation of Wetlands ................................................................................................................... 11 Disturbance ....................................................................................................................................................... 12 Management ......................................................................................................................................................... 12 Response to Management ................................................................................................................................ 12 Recommendations ............................................................................................................................................ 13 Research Priorities ................................................................................................................................................ 15 Bibliography .......................................................................................................................................................... 15 II. Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) .............................................................................................................. 27 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................... 27 Natural History ...................................................................................................................................................... 27 Morphology ....................................................................................................................................................... 27 Distribution ........................................................................................................................................................ 28 Migration ........................................................................................................................................................... 28 Habitat ............................................................................................................................................................... 29 Foraging Habits ................................................................................................................................................. 30 Breeding ............................................................................................................................................................ 30 Demography & Population Status ..................................................................................................................... 31 Threats .................................................................................................................................................................. 32 Sources of Mortality ........................................................................................................................................... 32 Contaminants .................................................................................................................................................... 32 Loss and Degradation of Wetlands ................................................................................................................... 33 Climate Change ................................................................................................................................................. 33 Management ......................................................................................................................................................... 33 Response to Management ................................................................................................................................ 33 Recommendations ............................................................................................................................................ 34 Research Priorities ................................................................................................................................................ 35 Bibliography .......................................................................................................................................................... 35 III. Sora (Porzana carolina) ....................................................................................................................................... 42 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................... 42 iii Natural History ...................................................................................................................................................... 42 Morphology ....................................................................................................................................................... 42 Distribution .......................................................................................................................................................