1. TNMP Avian Protection Plan
SWEDE 2017
Bob Fuller

3. A Brief History .. Born from an Idea in 2002
Prosecutions are ugly and difficult
Terry Thibeaux, a law enforcement officer with USFWS, and Hawks Aloft, Inc., thought there must be a better way to protect birds
They formed the idea and approached PNM
Other initial partners include the New Mexico Falconers Association, NM Department of Game and Fish, and Rural Utility Service

4. NMAP is Born
It is more powerful to collaborate than to prosecute, hence our mission
Working Cooperatively to Resolve Avian Issues through
Education, outreach, and technical support
Conferences and mini-NMAPs throughout the state of New Mexico

5. Avian Concerns
100,000s – 175 million birds estimated killed annually due to power line collision or electrocution
25% of reported Golden Eagle mortalities over a 30-year period were caused by electrocution
Reliability and avian protection go hand in hand
Cost of outages easily in the tens of millions of dollars plus disruption of service
The good news is that we know how to make lines safer for birds and avoid outages

6. Raptor Safe Standards

7. Equipment Protection

8. Bird Protection

9. Zones in GIS Database Red Hotzone Cultural issues Federal lands
Waterways
Superfund
Any extra permits
Refer to Environmental Dept.
for ground disturbance

10. Bird Zones

11. Avian Construction, Guards, or Environmental Dept. Review
Bald Eagle
Only eagle unique to North America
Declines due to habitat loss and pesticides
Hunted - Thought to eat poultry
1971 – only 5 active nests
2005 TPWD survey found 160 active nests with 204 young
-Texas Parks & Wildlife, tpwd.texas.gov
Avian Construction, Guards, or Environmental Dept. Review

12. Flight Diverters, Guards, or Environmental Dept. Review
Whooping Crane
Late 1930s – 18 birds
Increase by 1993, 173 by 2002
One surviving chick per year per pair
Migrate through CTX twice each year
-Texas Parks & Wildlife, tpwd.texas.gov
Flight Diverters, Guards, or Environmental Dept. Review

13. Environmental Dept. Review
Black-Capped Vireo
Endangered because:
Low growing woody cover they need for nesting has been cleared or overgrazed by livestock and deer.
Range fires, which used to keep the land open and the shrubs growing low to the ground, are not as frequent today as in the days before people settled Texas.
Brown-headed cowbirds lay their eggs in vireo nests, causing the vireos to abandon their nest.
-Texas Parks & Wildlife, tpwd.texas.gov
Environmental Dept. Review

14. Golden-cheeked Warbler
Endangered because of habitat loss:
Urbanization in Travis, Williamson, Bexar counties
Clearing of juniper (“cedar”) and oak for cattle.
Suppression of range fires
Brown-headed cowbirds lay their eggs in nests, causing the warblers to abandon their nest.
-Texas Parks & Wildlife, tpwd.texas.gov
Environmental Dept. Review

15. Work Outside Zones Blanket Clearance General Stipulations:
Use existing roads
Protect waterways
Report archaeological finds
Control dust and erosion

16. Self-Screen Checklist
Work Inside Zones
Self-Screen Checklist
Further Review for:
Crossing waterway
On State Land
Can’t use Raptor Standards
Excessive Erosion
>1 Acre of land use
Others

17. What’s the point?
Legal ($$$)
Avoid Fines
Avoid litigation

18. What’s the point?
Practical
Impact Awareness

19. Questions?