Environmental checklist form

Common Name	Latin Name
Regulidae – Kinglets
Golden-crowned Kinglet	Regulus satrapa
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Regulus calendula
Timaliidae – Babblers
Wrentit	Chamaea fasciata
Turdidae – Thrushes
Western Bluebird	Sialia Mexicana
Mountain Bluebird	Sialia currucoides
Swainson's Thrush	Catharus ustulatus
Hermit Thrush	Catharus guttatus
American Robin	Turdus migratorius
Varied Thrush	Ixoreus naevius
Mimidae – Mockingbirds and Thrashers
Sage Thrasher	Oreoscoptes montanus
Sturnidae – Starlings
European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris
Motacillidae – Wagtails and Pipits
American Pipit	Anthus rubescens
Bombycillidae – Waxwings
Cedar Waxwing	Bombycilla cedrorum
Calcariidae – Langspurs
Lapland Longspur	Calcarius lapponicus
Parulidae – Wood-warblers
Orange-crowned Warbler	Vermivora celata
Yellow Warbler^b	Dendroica petechial
Yellow-rumped Warbler	Dendroica coronate
Townsend's Warbler	Dendroica townsendi
Hermit Warbler	Dendroica occidentalis
MacGillivray's Warbler	Oporornis tolmiei
Common Yellowthroat	Geothlypis trichas
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla
Emberizidae – Towees and Sparrows
Spotted Towhee	Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Clay-colored Sparrow	Spizella pallida
Vesper Sparrow	Pooecetes gramineus
Savannah Sparrow	Passerculus sandwichensis
Common Name	Latin Name
Emberizidae – Towees and Sparrows (continued)
Grasshopper Sparrow^b	Ammodramus savannarum
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow	Ammodramus caudacutus
Fox Sparrow	Passerella iliaca
Song Sparrow	Melospiza melodia
Lincoln's Sparrow	Melospiza lincolnii
White-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia leucophrys
Golden-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia atricapilla
Dark-eyed Junco "Oregon Junco"	Junco hyemalis oreganus
Cardinalidae – Tanagers, Grosbeaks and Buntings
Western Tanager	Piranga ludoviciana
Black-headed Grosbeak	Pheucticus melanocephalus
Icteridae – Blackbirds and Orioles
Bobolink	Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Red-winged Blackbird	Agelaius phoeniceus
Western Meadowlark	Sturnella neglecta
Brewer's Blackbird	Euphagus cyanocephalus
Brown-headed Cowbird	Molothrus ater
Fringillidae - Finches
Purple Finch	Carpodacus purpureus
Fringillidae – Finches (continued)
House Finch	Carpodacus mexicanus
Pine Siskin	Carduelis pinus
American Goldfinch	Carduelis tristis

Species taxonomic order derived from the American Ornithological Union 7^th Edition – supplement 51 (August 2010)

Bold type indicates species has a special status. Please see key below for status:

¹ = Federal Species Listed: Endangered – under the Endangered Species Act

² = Federal Species Listed: Threatened - under the Endangered Species Act

³ = Federal Species Status: Species of Concern – by the US Fish and Wildlife Service

⁴ = Federal Species Status: Bird of Conservation Concern – by the US Fish and Wildlife Service

⁵ = Federal Species Listed Candidate for Endangered or Threatened status – by the US Fish and Wildlife Service

^x = Federal and /or state of California delisting of previous Endangered or Threatened status (followed by year)

^a = State of California Status: Endangered

^b = State of California Status: Species of Special Concern by the Department of Fish and Game

^c = State of California Status: Bird of Conservation Concern by the Department of Fish and Game

^d = State of California Status: Full Protection by the Department of Fish and Game

^e = State of California Status: Watch List by the Department of Fish and Wildlife

Analysis for potential negative impacts was undertaken for the following species having special federal and/or state status (period of life history for which special status applies in parenthesis):

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  Western Snowy Plover Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus (breeding and wintering)
  
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  Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus (breeding)
  
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  Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus anatum (breeding)
  
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  Merlin Falco columbarius (wintering)
  
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  Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia (breeding and wintering)
  
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  Northern Spotted Owl Strix occedentalis (breeding and dispersal)
  
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  California Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris actia
  
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  Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia (breeding)
  

Western Snowy Plover (charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) – The US Fish and Wildlife Service designates the Western Snowy Plover as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act and the California Department of Fish and Game lists it’s status as a Species of Special Concern. The Western Snowy Plover occurs along the coastal sandy beach areas and salt basins within the state. The primary causes of Snowy Plover population declines are habitat loss and degradation attributable to development, dune alteration and urbanization in areas of coastal habitats and the spread of invasive European beach grass, as well as disturbance and depredation by recreating humans. Breeding Snowy Plovers use sandy substrates with scattered sporadic ground litter, most often loose vegetation and driftwood. Snowy Plovers nest within 200m, frequently closer than 100m, to water using a simple depression lined with litter, plant debris or feathers; or without a lining. Wintering habitat in the Inglenook Fen – Ten Mile Dune Preserve includes the entirety of the coastal strand, from the tide line to the foredunes where they forage, rest and hide from predators amongst beach debris. The entire beach and dune habitat of the Inglenook Fen – Ten Mile Dune Preserve has been designated critical habitat within the Recovery Plan for the Pacific Population of the Western Snowy Plover charadrius alexandrinus nivosus (US Fish and Wildlife Service, 2007).
Recovery of the Western Snowy Plover is the impetus for the Tenmile Dune Haul Road Project. The haul road and the road base, formally a railroad bed, create an impediment to the dune system the length of the Tenmile Dune Preserve. Along with the dune stabilization effects of non-native European Beach Grass, Ammophilia arenaria, the haul road has increased dune heights and hindered movement resulting in static foredunes with steepened slopes and the loss of important coastal strand. The haul road’s removal in conjunction with a continued effort to remove Ammophilia arenaria attempts to restore Western snowy Plover breeding and winter habitat in the preserve. The preserve status protects this improved habitat from development and minimizes disturbances caused by human activities.
Currently California State Parks Mendocino District is working with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and other partner agencies on Snowy Plover population monitoring. The district and local trained volunteers participate in coordinated monitoring through:

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  Winter Window Surveys (coordinated mid-winter recovery wide monitoring)
  
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  Breeding surveys (weekly surveys to locate and monitor nesting Snowy Plovers)
  
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  Nest Monitoring
  
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    observing area surrounding active nesting attempts to document nesting status
    
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    monitoring human activity
    
  • 
    offering education on Snowy Plover conservation to the visiting public
    
  • 
    Shorebird counts as part of a Shorebird Conservation program initiated by Mendocino Coast Audubon
    

Additional steps by the Mendocino District in support of the recovery efforts are:

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  Nesting Habitat delineation (set aside potential nesting areas with symbolic fencing)
  
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  Anti-predation and depredation actions, management and policies
  
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  Habitat restoration projects
  
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  Designation of the Inglenook Fen – Tenmile Dunes as a State Preserve
  
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  Development of the Inglenook Fen – Tenmile Dune Management Plan
  

All monitoring and habitat restoration projects associated with the Western Snowy Plover are pursued through consultation and permitting with the Arcata Office of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The Tenmile Haul Road Removal Project will adhere to the technical consultation requirements set forth by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The results of the adherence to AFWS consultation will present no nonnegative impacts to Western Snowy Plover populations.

Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) – California Department of Fish and Game designates Species of Special Concern status on Northern Harriers during breeding, April to September. Northern Harriers utilize open areas with low vegetation, often near water or in wetlands, for foraging and hunting. Harriers construct nests of grass and vegetation within ground vegetation concealed in grassy, marshy areas. Foraging occurs on the wing in low coursing flights over open areas hunting for small rodents, reptiles or birds. Perching on the ground or atop low substrates is most common.
The dune troughs and associated vegetation and hydrological accumulations create ample habitat for the Northern Harrier along the eastern portion of the haul road over much of the project area. Northern Harrier surveys will occur during the breeding season. In the event Harriers are present avoidance and mitigation measures will result in the MacKerricher Dune Rehabilitation Project having no negative impacts to Northern Harrier populations
Merlin (Falco columbarius) – While not known to breed within the coastal environs of California, the Merlin is a frequent visitor to the coastal strand during migration and winter months, September to May. The Merlin is on the California Department of Fish and Game Watch List due to concerns about the population status which may be associated with declines in small bird populations, its primary food source. The Merlin, a predator of the Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) and other smaller shorebirds, prefers wide open areas of little to no low vegetation which allows it to chase down prey on the wing, taking advantage of its superior aerial speed and extreme agility.
The resulting restored coastal dune system will enhance habitat used by the primary food resource of the Merlin. In the event the Merlin is encountered during project activities, ample foraging habitat is readily available for the Merlin to self-relocate outside the immediate project area. The project does not diminish prey resources or negatively alter foraging habitat. The life history and habitat usage of the Merlin does not require avoidance. The MacKerricher Dune Rehabilitation Project will have no negative impacts on Merlin populations.
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) – Placed on the Endangered Species list in 1970 due to population declines attributed to DDT, the American Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus anatum, was then federally delisted in 1999 and delisted in California in 2009 as populations around the western United States and in California recovered. The Peregrine is currently designated as a Bird of Conservation Concern by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and as Fully Protected by the California Department of Fish and Game. The Peregrine Falcon occurs in coastal areas throughout California during both fall and spring migrations, over winter and during the summer breeding season. The Peregrine is commonly found in areas proximate to water and often nests in aeries, unlined scrapes or ledges, along cliffs and bluffs; or utilizes a man-made vertical structures, such as a building or bridge; as well as nesting on the ground atop prominences or low hills in rare instances.
Avian prey makes up the majority of the Falco peregrinus diet, which includes, but is not limited to, waterfowl, shorebirds, and corvids. Foraging occurs on the wing with hunting from a perch occurring opportunistically. Peregrine falcons are known to prey upon Snowy Plover and other shorebirds regularly along the dune beach area.
Bluffs and sea stacks are often used for nesting in coastal areas; hence, potential breeding may occur on the cliffs and sea stacks north of the Ten Mile River toward the Sea Side Beach access point (less than .75 miles north). Peregrine Falcon surveys will occur during the breeding season. In the event Peregrines are present avoidance and mitigation measures will result in the MacKerricher Dune Rehabilitation Project having no negative impacts on Peregrine Falcon populations.

Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) – The Burrowing owl is designated as a US Fish and Wildlife Service Bird of Conservation Concern and a California Department of Fish and Game Species of Special Concern. Burrowing Owls can be found in areas of low and/or scattered vegetation with flat or low rolling topography throughout California. The owls use burrows excavated into flat ground or along slopes often dug by mammals or themselves. On occasion, owls will utilize structures buried or protruding from the ground which offer an accessible cavity, such as culverts, irrigation infrastructure, and woody or fibrous debris or buried rock. Athene cunicularia opportunistically perch on various substrates close to an occupied burrow that offers an elevated view without being too conspicuous, often using low hilltops, logs, rocks, low signs or fence posts, shrubs or a mound of dirt outside the burrow entrance.
The numerous buried driftwood logs offer adequate substrate for burrows and ground level cavities used by Burrowing Owls. Several historical records exist for MacKerricher State Park, and within the Preserve. Burrowing Owl surveys for both wintering and breeding season presence will occur. In the event an occupied burrow is detected avoidance and mitigation measures will result in the MacKerricher Dune Rehabilitation Project having no negative impacts on Burrowing Owl populations.
Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis) – The Northern Spotted Owl is designated as Threatened by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, under the Endangered Species Act, and a Species of Special Concern by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife due to habitat loss through past timber harvesting, current wildfire threats and encroachment by the Barred Owl in the remaining suitable breeding habitats. Strix occidentalis uses primarily forested habitat with the characteristics and structure associated with late-successional/old growth in the Coastal, Cascade and Sierra ranges of California. After the breeding season, March to August, hatch-year owls disperse from the breeding grounds through December. The dispersing young are apt to use habitats having similar structure to breeding habitats. Northern Spotted Owls may be found in areas of marginal or fragmented habitat structure as they cross through them during dispersal.
No areas designated as critical habitat are located within or adjacent to the project area. The closest known Northern Spotted Owl territory occurs to the northwest of the northern end of the project area, greater than 1.5 miles (2.5km) up Ten Mile River. Several ridgelines block direct line of site and sound. The MacKerricher Dune Rehabilitation project presents no effect to breeding Northern Spotted Owls.
Marginal Northern Spotted Owl roosting habitat, potentially used upon dispersal occurs to the east of the project area across Highway One. Within 1.3 mile of the project area, to the east of Highway One, greater than 400 acres of multi-storied, wide canopy stands of Redwood/Douglas Fir forest stretch the length of the ascending terrace representing the westernmost available habitat of this type in the general project area. Activities associated with the project will all occur west of these stands. Any use of Highway One associated to the project will likely occur during daylight hours. No direct or indirect impacts upon dispersing Northern Spotted Owls will result from the MacKerricher Dune Rehabilitation project.
Analysis indicates there are no negative impacts to breeding or dispersing Northern Spotted Owls strix occindentalis resulting from activity associated with the MacKerricher Dune Rehabilitation Project. No further analysis, consultation or technical assistance is required in conjunction with the project for the species.
Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) – Once found throughout California in abundance, lowland populations of Yellow Warblers are in decline and are no longer common where they were once ubiquitous resulting in a designation as a Species of Special Concern by the California Department of Fish and Game. Yellow Warblers construct a small cup nest in low shrubs often using riparian and open woodlands areas populated with willow, cottonwood, alders and other smaller trees. Yellow Warblers mainly forage on insects and spiders but may eat berries. Migrating to California in April, their breeding season begins shortly after arrival, extends through August and may include several clutches.

The Wax myrtle and willow within the riparian areas adjacent to Fen and Inglenook Creek are potentially used by breeding Yellow warblers. Surveys during the breeding season will determine Yellow warbler presence. In the event Yellow warblers are present avoidance and mitigation measures will result in the MacKerricher Dune Rehabilitation Project having no negative impacts on Yellow warbler populations.