Douglas RANGER DISTRICT www.skyislandaction.org 2-1 State of the Coronado Forest DRAFT 11.05.08 DRAFT 11.05.08 State of the Coronado Forest 2-2 www.skyislandaction.org CHAPTER 2 Chiricahua Ecosystem Management Area The Chiricahua Mountain Range, located in the Natural History southeastern corner of the Coronado National Forest, The Chiricahua Mountains are known for their is one of the largest Sky Islands in the U.S. portion of amazing variety of terrestrial plants, animals, and the Sky Island region. The range is approximately 40 invertebrates. They contain exceptional examples of miles long by 20 miles wide with elevations ranging ecosystems that are rare in southern Arizona. While from 4,400 to 9,759 feet at the summit of Chiricahua the range covers only 0.5% of the total land area in Peak. The Chiricahua Ecosystem Management Area Arizona, it contains 30% of plant species found in (EMA) is the largest Management Area on the Forest Arizona, and almost 50% of all bird species that encompassing 291,492 acres of the Chiricahua and regularly occur in the United States.1 The Chiricahuas Pedragosa Mountains. form part of a chain of mountains spanning from Protected by remoteness, the Chiricahuas remain central Mexico into southern Arizona. Because of one of the less visited ranges on the Coronado their proximity to the Sierra Madre, they support a National Forest. Formerly surrounded only by great diversity of wildlife found nowhere else in the ranches, the effects of Arizona’s explosive 21st century United States such as the Mexican Chickadee, whose population growth are beginning to reach the flanks only known breeding locations in the country are in of the Chiricahuas. these mountains and the nearby Animas Mountains, and the Chiricahua fox squirrel. Apache and San Simon Valley, located east of the mountains, Chihuahua pines characteristic of the Sierra Madre has been experiencing construction of homes. grow on forested slopes, and birds such as Sulphur- Exurban growth is expected to continue in the San Bellied Flycatchers, and Northern Buff-Breasted Simon Valley and the Portal area. Sulphur Springs Flycatchers reach the northern edge of their range Valley to the west is still largely farmland and an here. Buff-breasted flycatcher in Arizona nests almost important wintering area for birds of prey, and for entirely in the Chiricahuas and Huachucas, usually in Sandhill Cranes in the state-managed Whitewater pine-oak woodland, placing most of their breeding Draw Wildlife Area. Lands to the north and southeast habitat under management of the Coronado National are primarily a mixture of state, Federal and private Forest. The Chiricahuas are one of the easiest places in lands. Chiricahua National Monument, known for its southern Arizona to see the charismatic, subtropical spectacularly eroded rhyolite rock formations, borders Elegant Trogon.2 Elegant Trogons nest in just a dozen the northwest side of the Forest. or so sycamore-lined canyons in southern Arizona www.skyislandaction.org 2-3 State of the Coronado Forest DRAFT 11.05.08 where about 1,000 acres of suitable habitat exists.3 Canyon, and South Fork. Flammulated Owl and Red- Some of these Canyons can be found along the eastern faced Warbler are regular breeders found in mixed slopes of the Chiricahua range.4 conifer forests above about 6500’ in most or all the The global importance of the Chiricahua major drainages of the range. Mountains to the birding community is recognized The Mexican subspecies of several birds have a very internationally by bird watching enthusiasts. More limited distribution in the U.S., mostly in than 375 species of birds live in, or travel through the southeastern Arizona. Those breeding in the Chiricahua Mountain range. A 2008 Field Guides Chiricahuas include Whip-poor-will, Brown Creeper, Newsletter refers to southeast Arizona as “the Number and House Wren. Very rare tropical breeders (not One Must-Go-To Spot in North America for birders.” reported in most years) include Crescent-chested The main reason for that assessment is the rich warbler, Rufous-capped Warbler, and Flame-colored habitats for birdlife found primarily in the Tanager. Other species of tropical birds which Chiricahuas, Huachucas and Santa Ritas. Examples of occasionally appear here include Rufous-backed the rich bird life are numerous. A trip up Cave Creek Robin, Aztec Thrush, Blue Mockingbird, Slate- Canyon on the northeast side of the range climbs throated Redstart, Yellow Grosbeak and Black-vented through a study area in which the U.S.’s densest Oriole. The Chiricahuas are also home to multiple known raptor population occurs, including habitat of endemic species such as Apacheria chiricahuensis, a 11 different species of owls. A total of 24 species of perennial plant first discovered in 1973 that flourishes birds of prey nest along the Canyon. A trip up Pinery exclusively on south-facing cliffs in the Chiricahuas.7 Canyon on the west side of the range passes through Healthy populations of mountain lion and black bear the habitat of 10 different species of nightjars, and persist here and probably participate in regular genetic owls. Pine Canyon, a cliff lined drainage just south of exchange with populations over the border in Mexico. Pinery Canyon, hosts nesting trogons along with a Coati, Javelina and two species of deer occur in good great variety of warblers.5 Pinery and Rucker Canyons numbers. In the past two decades, Jaguar have been in the early 1900s were once home to the now sighted in the Peloncillos to the east, the Dragoons to extirpated Thick-billed Parrots.6 Due to the excellent the west and elsewhere along the U.S.-Mexico border. habitat found in the Chiricahuas, the mountain range The north end of the Chiricahua range is was the site of Thick-billed Parrot reintroduction dominated by the landmark of “Cochise Head,” a efforts in the 1980s. The only U.S. nesting of the mile-long monolith of sculpted rhyolite.8 Major Short-tailed Hawk outside of Florida was documented drainages in the range include West Turkey Creek and at the head of Pinery Canyon. The Peregrine Falcon, Rucker Canyon on the western side, and Cave Creek once nearly extirpated from the continental U.S. due Canyon on the eastern side. The small town of Portal to pesticide contamination, has recovered and the sits a the mouth of Cave Creek Canyon, an area Chiricahuas are home to a population over 30 pairs, a notable for stunning rock monoliths, beautiful testament to the abundant avian prey base found here. scenery, and an amazing diversity of bird life.9 The At least 14 territories of the Federally-threatened American Museum of Natural History’s Southwestern Mexican Spotted Owl have been identified in the Research Station is located a few miles up the Canyon. Chiricahuas, along with a dozen territories of Apache Founded in 1955 at the urging of scientist who were Goshaw. Montezuma Quail thrives in the grasses in impressed with the invertebrate diversity in the Madrean oak woodland habitat between 5,000 and Chiricahuas, The Research Station has since become 8,000 feet. In the past two decades, formerly rare one of the Nation’s most productive sites for Violet-crowned Hummingbirds and Buff-breasted invertebrate research. As of June 2006, over 1,100 Flycatchers have expanded into the Chiricahuas and scientific research papers have been published from are now regularly breed. Band-tailed Pigeons nest here work based out of the Research Station on a variety of and more arrive in flocks in early summer to feed on species ranging from butterflies and ants, to lizards acorns in good mast years. Eared Quetzal and young and snakes, to plants and birds. of the year appear regularly in late summer and may Vegetation types in the Chiricahua EMA range be nesting in the high and inaccessible montane mixed from semi-desert grasslands and Chihuahuan desert conifer habitat at the head of Log Canyon, Price scrub (starting around 4,400 feet elevation) to DRAFT 11.05.08 State of the Coronado Forest 2-4 www.skyislandaction.org Figure 2.1 Overview of the Chiricahua EMA www.skyislandaction.org 2-5 State of the Coronado Forest DRAFT 11.05.08 montane mixed conifer forest at the highest elevations day Chiricahua Mountains. In the 1770s, the (8,500 to 9,759 feet). Spaniards began to use Chiricahua Apache to Human Prehistory and History designate a particular band of Apaches living in this range (the Chokonen).17 The Chiricahua Mountains The first solid archeological evidence of human and surrounding valleys provided refuge and habitation in this area shows Clovis hunters spearing resources for the Chokonen band of Apaches. mammoths in the San Pedro Valley — to the west of the Chiricahua EMA — by 9,000 B.C. Next came the Well-known history of Apaches in the Chiricahua long occupancy of the Cochise Culture of hunter- Mountains dates back to the mid-1800s when Cochise gatherers, eventual introduction of domesticated crop was the chief of the Chokonen band of Chiricahua plants, and development of more densely settled Apaches. After decades of skirmishes with Mexican networks of farming peoples.10 In these later times, the soldiers and settlers, 1858 marked Cochise’s first Chiricahua Mountains sat near the confluence of peaceable interactions with newly-arriving white ranges for the Mogollon, Casas Grandes, and settlers and their military protectors. The peace ended Hohokam peoples that populated the region, possibly in 1861, when soldiers captured and executed several as early as 200 A.D. and lasting in some form through of Cochise’s relatives. This set off eleven years of the arrival of the Apache. Pottery pertaining to all of violence between Anglos and Cochise’s Apaches.18 those cultures from the 1200s has been found on the During this time, Cochise and other Chokonen surface of unexcavated sites at the mouths of Jhus, Apaches split time between the Dragoon, Chiricahua, Sulphur, Cave Creek and Horseshoe Canyons.11 and Peloncillo Mountains, as well as various sites south of the present-day U.S.-Mexico border.