Rabbit Valley Recreation Management Area

Background | Criteria | Northwest Colorado | Northeast Colorado
Southwest Colorado | Southeast Colorado

Rabbit Valley Recreation
Management Area
Mesa County

Size: 21,360 acres

Elevation: 4350 - 5239 feet

Habitats: Primary – semidesert shrubland, juniper

Secondary – grassland, cliff/rock, lowland riparian, shore/bank

Ownership: Federal (Bureau of Land Management)

Private (private individuals)

Land Use: Primary – recreation/tourism

Secondary – nature and wildlife conservation, hunting/fishing, agriculture/livestock

IBA Criteria: 2, 4 (landbirds), 5

Site description

Location: Rabbit Valley Recreation Management Area is located 26 miles west of Grand Junction in west-central Colorado.

Vegetative/natural features: Rabbit Valley Recreation Management Area is spread out over high desert terrain, with vegetation consisting of pinyon-juniper and sagebrush scattered among sandstone formations and overhang. Soils at the site are the extremes of very sandy and stoney clays. A small area of the site (approximately 3%) consists of lowland riparian habitat.

Historic features: The McDonald Creek Canyon Cultural Resource Area within the site contains a high concentration of rock art.

Ornithological Importance

The site is among the best in the state for finding Gray Vireos and Scott’s Orioles.

Breeding species:	Average #	Maximum #
Bald Eagle	2	7
Chukar	25	75
Cassin’s Kingbird	<3	4 pairs
Gray Vireo	14 pairs	50
Pinyon Jay	30	300
Rock Wren	50 pairs	250
Northern Mockingbird	12 pairs	60
Lark Sparrow	50 pairs	250
Black-throated Sparrow	20 pairs	100
Scott's Oriole	6 pairs	30

Spring Migrant species:	Average #	Maximum #
Gray Flycatcher	20	40
high country passerines	2000	4000

Wintering species:	Average #	Maximum #
waterfowl	30	400

Conservation/Management Issues

Serious threats:
1. wildfire (which has destroyed a large part of the juniper habitat).

Minor threats:
1. disturbance to birds by close and frequent approaches to nests by recreationists.

Potential threats:
1. cowbird parasitism affecting Gray Vireos;
2. habitat conversion of juniper for livestock range improvement and development.

Efforts to address threats:
Bureau of Land Management policy at this site is full fire suppression. Land managers attempt to keep vehicles on designated routes.

Management details:
The site is Bureau of Land Management property, with seven private inholders. The BLM plan for this area specifies that juniper woodlands are the "desired plant community…for gray vireos and Scott’s orioles." The site is included within the Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area. While it is the objective of the BLM to acquire the private inholdings, a policy of dealing only with willing sellers at fair market prices leaves these inholdings susceptible to development. The site is a Colorado Watchable Wildlife Area.