Technical Report

2024 Yellow-billed Cuckoo Survey Results FINAL REPORT – Belen Reach, Middle Rio Grande, New Mexico

URL: https://webapps.usgs.gov/mrgescp/documents/2024-Belen-Reach-YBCU_Report_Final_TetraTech.pdf

Date: 2025/03/01

Author(s): NM RJH Consultants Inc. and Tetra Tech Inc.

Publication: Prepared by NM RJH Consultants Inc., Englewood, CO and Tetra Tech Inc., Albuquerque, NM for Bureau of Reclamation, Albuquerque Area Office.

Abstract:

In 2024, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) retained Tetra Tech, Inc. (Tetra Tech) to conduct presence/absence surveys and territory estimation for the Federally listed threatened Western yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus occidentalis; “cuckoo” or “YBCU”), within a 6,280-acre study area in the Belen Reach along approximately 30 river miles of the Middle Rio Grande (MRG) riparian corridor. This study was designed to inform overall management of the Belen Reach and to support compliance needs for Reclamation, the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, and the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission. Additionally, survey activities within the Belen Reach contribute to the overall understanding of YBCU distribution within the MRG, population trends, and baseline population data.

In accordance with U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) protocols, YBCU surveys were conducted four times between June 15 and August 15. Tetra Tech surveys comprised a total of 192.5 observer-hours on YBCU presence/absence surveys in which 12 cuckoo detections were observed. From these detections, one possible breeding territory was delineated with one possible breeding pair.