Birds, reptiles, amphibians, vascular plants, and habitat in the Gila River riparian zone in southwestern New Mexico

Abstract

During 2006 and 2007 our research crews collected data on plants, vegetation, birds, reptiles, and amphibians at 49 sites along the Gila River in southwest New Mexico from upstream of the Gila Cliff Dwellings on the Middle and West Forks of the Gila to sites below the town of Red Rock, New Mexico. For the vegetation work, three plots were established at each site and a total of 476 species were identified in the plots. For bird work, more than 70 birds were identified at both the lower and upper Gila River sites, including the federal and state-listed southwestern Willow Flycatcher, Bell’s Vireo, Gila Woodpecker, Abert’s Towhee, and Common Black Hawk. And surveys in and adjacent to the river at these sites found five amphibians species, eight snake species and 28 other reptile species. Data from these surveys provide an important census of species that are present and provide a baseline data set for future study and comparison.