Riparian Area Bird Declared Endangered

The little southwestern willow flycatcher is an emerging player in the ongoing effort to protect Arizona riparian areas. Recently listed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife as an endangered species, the flycatcher is considered an indicator species for southwestern riparian habitat conditions.

Listing the flycatcher as endangered prohibits "take" of the species. Take is defined as any action that would harm the species; e.g., shooting, killing, harassing, trapping or collecting. In addition, federal agencies must ensure activities they undertake, fund or authorize do not jeopardize listed species.

The endangered species designation is an important step in providing special protection for the flycatcher, and the process eventually could include identifying specific river or stream segments critical to the bird's recovery. Such a critical habitat designation expands protection to species -- and often provokes controversy.

The Greater Gila Biodiversity Project of Silver City, NM faults USFW for not establishing critical habitats for the flycatcher claiming that without them the bird surely will become extinct. In January 1992 a coalition of individuals and conservation organizations petitioned USFW to list the flycatcher as endangered, and a year later the agency proposed 650 miles of streams in Arizona, California and New Mexico as critical.

These proposed critical habitats included 90 miles of the San Pedro River and also segments of the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, the Verde River, and the Little Colorado River in the White Mountains. The federal agency is holding off establishing critical habitat designations until July to allow for additional public comment.

The critical habitat designation is not ensured. Dr. John G. Rogers, director of USFW's southwest region said, "We're hopeful that with strong state and federal cooperation, a riparian recovery strategy can be developed that will make designation of critical habitat unnecessary."

USFW granted the flycatcher endangered species status based on surveys that found only 300 to 500 breeding pairs in flycatcher breeding areas. USFW estimates that fewer than 1,000 breeding pairs remain.

USFW cites loss and modification of riparian habitat as a prime cause of the flycatcher's endangered status. Nest parasitism by the brown-headed cowbird and lack of adequate regulations are further justifications for the endangered species status.

Groups opposed to the flycatcher's listing include the Arizona Cattlemen's Association which fears a resulting reduction in grazing. The organization sponsored a study of a flycatcher population along a four-mile stretch of the Gila River on private lands in New Mexico.

Dennis Parker, an author of the study, contends that flycatchers can be found in significant numbers in areas not surveyed by USFW or other groups. Parker said "bad biology is being practiced" by those who listed the species as endangered.

While the flycatcher's fate is discussed, legislative efforts are underway in Washington to declare a moratorium on various environmental regulations, including the critical habitat designation. Such action could affect the flycatcher controversy.