Cliff/Cave/Rock habitat is probably better described as a sub-habitat. It occurs wherever rock is found, throughout the state. Areas above treeline are excluded from this designation and included under alpine tundra.

Small caves are found throughout the state. Large cavern openings are rare and are mainly found in the Guadalupe Escarpment, especially at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in Eddy County. Carlsbad Caverns provide nesting habitat for the majority of the state's Cave Swallows. Rocky outcroppings may exist anywhere and even small areas may provide habitat for breeding Rock Wrens. In northern New Mexico, these areas are often free of snow in winter, providing foraging areas for species such as longspurs in rocky portions of grasslands. Cliffs need not be very tall for birds such as Canyon Wrens. Rocky cliffs near or in riparian areas are also included. Black Swifts use cliffs in and around waterfalls. Golden Eagles may nest at 180 ft. or higher above the ground (Hawks Aloft, unpub. data). Steep-sided cliffs with ledges for nest sites or scrapes that allow little or no access from the ground are key components of raptor nesting cliffs.

Owners/managers of these habitats constitute almost all types in the state.

Impacts to these habitats include 1) mining operations, 2) development and 3) disturbance through recreation such as rock climbing.

Physiographic Areas covered: Mexican Highlands, Chihuahuan Desert, Colorado Plateau, Mogollon Rim, Pecos and Staked Plains, Southern Rocky Mountains

Table 1. Cliff/Cave/Rock Priority Species

Bird Habitat Requirements, Population and/or Habitat Objectives
:(in taxonomic order)

Associated Species: White-throated Swift, Western Kingbird, Horned Lark, Violet-green Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Eastern Meadowlark, Western Meadowlark

• open grasslands and shrub-grasslands
• most common nest sites are ledges or cavities in cliffs or bluffs
• availability of appropriate nest sites can be highly limiting
• ground squirrels are important breeding season food source; Horned Larks and meadowlarks in non-breeding season
• may be outcompeted for nesting sites when Peregrine Falcon is present (D. Cleary pers. comm.)

Distribution: Found in appropriate habitat, especially in areas near cliffs, statewide.

Population and/or Habitat Objectives:

• in the West, T = -2.7%, p = 0.11, N = 97, RA = 0.12 (Sauer et al. 1997)
• keep population at estimated level in 1975 of 293-406 pairs (Platt 1975)
• limit human activity to a minimum of 410ft (125m) from known nests (Holthuijzen et al. 1990); preferably 0.62mi (1km) (Suter and Joness 1981)
• avoid overgrazing in areas within 4-24mi (7-38km) (Steenhof 1998) of known nesting sites. Sheet erosion and plant cover associated with overgrazing limits food for ground squirrels (Platt 1974)

Peregrine Falcon _(NMPIF)

Associated Species: Golden Eagle, White-throated Swift, Common Raven, Canyon Wren

• Breeds on relatively tall cliffs in New Mexico
• often found in remote areas free from much human disturbance
• in NM will prey on a variety of locally available birds including doves, swifts, flickers, jays, meadowlarks and other birds
• at one aerie, 62 species of birds' remains were identified (S. Williams, unpubl. data)

Distribution: Found in western New Mexico east to the Sangre de Cristo, Sandia/Manzano and Sacramento mountains.

Population and/or Habitat Objectives:

• insufficiently sampled by BBS
• maintain 2.14 productivity rates until occupany of territories increases (Johnson 1998)
• increase occupancy rate of territories to 85% in any given year by 2019, and then maintain(Johnson 1998)
• after gaining above occupancy rate a minimum productivity rate of 1.45 young per adult pair should be maintained
• encourage organic farming practices
• among non-organic farms limit insecticide use to lowest feasible levels and encourage crops that do not need extensive insecticide control
• continue a ban on falconry harvesting until population has stabilized for five years
• limit human disturbance around nest sites

Associated Species: American Dipper

• a high aerial forager
• uses high walls underneath or near waterfalls for nest sites
• nests on walls in cool, wet areas that are shaded from the sun
• time between parental visits varies (H. Schwarz pers. comm.), therefore nests must be hidden from predators
• extremely high nest-site fidelity

Distribution: Currently breeding only at Jemez Falls in the Santa Fe National Forest

• in the West, T = -6.1%, p = 0.24, N = 49, RA=1.60 (Sauer et al. 1997)
• maintain current population at Jemez Falls
• eliminate recreation use in areas where humans may impact on nest sites. At Jemez Springs, use above the waterfall does not seem to impact nesting activity but streamside access to the falls from below should be discouraged. Passive measures should be taken, such as making it more difficult to descend the steep trail below overlook (H. Schwarz pers. comm.)

Cave Swallow _{(West 1998)}

Associated Species: None

• in New Mexico, largest colony nests in caverns; recent discoveries of colonies in southern Dona Ana county are under low bridges over irrigation ditches.
• open foraging areas generally near water are critical
• foraging often occurs within 6.2mi (10km) of nesting area
• nests in caves placed in the "twilight zone"; often in solution pockets or other cavities
• minimal height for nests in culverts is 3.28ft (1m) above ground and 1ft (0.3m) from the ceiling structure; often in areas where daylight approximates the "twilight zone" in caves

Distribution: Found at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and in the Mesilla Valley south of Las Cruces; may be spreading north in the Mesilla Valley.

Population and/or Habitat Objectives:

• insufficiently sampled by BBS
• maintain or increase numbers of birds at Carlsbad Caverns National Park
• reduce use of pesticides through education in surrounding agricultural areas
• encourage organic farming practices
• among non-organic farms limit insecticide use to lowest feasible levels and encourage crops that do not need extensive insecticide control
• limit disturbance near nesting areas during breeding season

Canyon Wren _{(Jones and Dieni 1995)}

Associated Species: Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, White-throated Swift, Cliff Swallow, Rock Wren

• uses crevices and interstices in cliffs, steep canyon walls, rocky areas; occasionally high, steep river banks
• vertical component is critical
• nests in crevices, caverns, cliffs or occasionally banks, usually with a protective overhanging element
• not associated with any particular vegetative community
• occurs up to approximately 9000 ft in elevation
• diet consists of seeds and insects blown into rock crevices

Distribution: Found throughout the state where tall, vertical walls are present. Much less common in the Pecos and Staked Plains.

Population and/or Habitat Objectives:

• in NM, T = -11.2%, p = 0.30, N = 11, RA = 0.13 (Sauer et al. 1997)
• develop appropriate monitoring technique for this species
• maintain stable or increasing population in known areas of occurrence

Maintain the integrity of bluffs and cliffs. Observe recommended buffer zones for Peregrine and Prairie Falcons.

Mining - In reclamation of mining areas: replace rocky outcroppings with boulders/stones to create artificial rocky areas for perches.

Recreation - Manage recreational activities in these areas to avoid disturbance during the nesting season