1. Riparian Restoration in Yellow-billed Cuckoo Habitat

2. Western DPS of Yellow-billed Cuckoo Listed as threatened October 2014
Listing is the process of officially designating species as “endangered” or “threatened”.
Threatened
Endangered
Candidate
MSO was listed in It was petitioned twice in 1993 to delist, but the petitions were found not substantial.
There are two ways in identifying species for possible listing.
A citizen or interested party “petitions” the Service.
The Service identifies species through internal studies and discussion with State, academia, and other scientific experts.

3. Critical Habitat Proposed August 2014

4. Reasons for Listing Threats to the species
90-99 percent habitat loss in 3 states with highest historical numbers of cuckoo
Small population size (about 680 – 1025 pairs rangewide)

5. Threats
Hydrologic alteration from dams and diversions, water management, ground water pumping, climate change, etc
Loss and degradation of habitat from conversion to agricultural uses, gravel mines, roads, and non-native vegetation encroachment.
Levee or other development, which restricts the floodplain and prevents regeneration of riparian habitat
Channel incision due to development or other actions also restricting floodplain
Pesticide effects on prey and cuckoos themselves
Exacerbation of these effects in the remaining small habitat patches

6. What does listing under the ESA mean?
Have to be aware of “take” of the cuckoo.
Section 9 of the Act prohibits the taking of any federally endangered or threatened animal species.
Take is defined as to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct.
Applies to all (private companies, citizens, as well as public agencies)
Section 9: Prohibits the taking of any federally endangered or threatened animal species.
Take is defined as to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct.

7. Habitat

8. Habitat Needs Overstory and understory trees and shrubs
In Colorado primarily native cottonwoods and willows
Other native and non-native trees and shrubs maybe used, such as box elder, Russian olive, maybe Siberian elm
Type of herbaceous cover not seemingly important but can benefit food sources
Further study on specific riparian tree and shrub use would be beneficial

9. Habitat Needs Foraging occurs primarily in overstory trees
Nesting occurs primarily in understory
Understory used for nesting may consist of young cottonwoods, willow, Russian olive, even mixed tamarisk
Nesting will not occur in areas dominated by tamarisk (over about 50%)
Nesting has been confirmed in CO in Russian olive

10. Habitat Needs
Nesting - Minimum patch size is about 12 acres with at least one area within patch at least 100m wide
Within the patch there needs to be a very dense area for the nest itself
Foraging areas can be less than 100m wide, even a single line of trees or single trees
Generally do not fly over open areas more than 300m wide during breeding season

11. Food Items
Major prey: Big poplar sphinx moth larvae (45%; percentages from a CA study)
tree frogs (24 percent),
katydids (22 percent)
grasshoppers (9%)
Minor prey: beetles (Coleoptera sp.)
dragonflies
praying mantis
Flies (Diptera sp.) Courtesy of BugGuide.net
spiders
butterflies
caddis flies Courtesy of Britannica.com
crickets
cicadas (Family Cicadidae)
Other small vertebrates such as lizards
Courtesy of Flickr.com

12. Riparian Restoration Measures to Avoid Take
We will not consider a restoration action take if all work will be conducted outside of the breeding season (June 1 to August 31) and 0.5 mile or further away from suitable habitat.
If work is proposed during the breeding season a protocol survey will be conducted by a permitted surveyor. If cuckoos are found no work will occur within 0.5 mile during the breeding season.
Within suitable habitat patches of 12 acres or larger no more than 25% of a habitat patch will be treated.
Vegetation treatment will not create gaps of vegetation more than 300m wide.
Revegetation at a 1:1 ratio will be initiated within a year using native trees and shrubs.
Next phase of treatment can occur if 75% of vegetation has survived for 3 years and is 5-7m in height; the typical height that cuckoos nest.

13. Riparian Restoration Measures to Minimize Chance of Take
To minimize chance of take occurring we recommend pre-project surveys in suitable habitat patches 12 acres or larger, whether project is scheduled in or outside of breeding season.
Does not matter if habitat is in proposed critical habitat or not
Surveys should still be conducted

14. Riparian Restoration Considerations
If cuckoos are found then project proponents should talk to FWS to determine next steps
If cuckoos found does not mean cannot conduct restoration project, just need to be cautious
May mean multiple small phasing of treatment areas over different years outside of breeding season

15. Riparian Restoration Considerations
If cuckoos not found during surveys there is more flexibility
Can start restoration project after last survey. Last survey will be from August 1 to August 15, so 2-4 weeks earlier.

16. Riparian Restoration Considerations
If cuckoo surveys not conducted we must assume the birds are there and take could occur
Must proceed with restoration cautiously as if we found cuckoos during a survey
Small restoration phases

17. Riparian Restoration Considerations
If cuckoos not found and habitat primarily or partially native we recommend conducting in phases but could be larger phases than if cuckoos found
Tamarisk dominated sites could be restored on larger scale
In Russian olive dominated sites need to be cautious and conduct restoration in phases because they have been found nesting in Russian olive mixed with native species and foraging (and maybe nesting) in 100% Russian olive.

18. Partnering
Agency and non-agency people can get trained and permitted to conduct surveys. Must have a permit if using recorded calls to detect birds.
CPW does not need permit but should still provide survey reports to FWS.
If not permitted report of sightings without using calls is welcome.
FWS-ES may occasionally have money for survey or research efforts.
FWS-ES rarely has money for habitat improvements but FWS – Partners for Fish and Wildlife has money for private landowner habitat improvements.

19. Partnering
We are also willing to discuss restoration design to avoid take.
FWS-ES is willing to write letters of support for grants to fund good restoration efforts.
We might even get out and help conduct on-the-ground restoration efforts once in a while.