Colorado National Monument

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

Colorado National Monument
Mesa County

Size: 20,454 acres

Elevation: 4500 - 7500 feet

Habitats: Primary – pinyon/juniper

Secondary – cliff/rock, sagebrush shrubland, lowland riparian

Ownership: Federal (U.S. National Park Service)

Land Use: Primary – nature and wildlife conservation, recreation/tourism, undeveloped

Secondary – research

IBA Criteria: 2, 3

Site description

Location: Colorado National Monument is located at the far north edge of the Uncompahgre Plateau, west of the city of Grand Junction.

Vegetative/natural features: The site’s landscape is dominated by alternating steep-walled canyons and cliffs, and gently sloping mesa tops. Vegetation consists primarily of woodlands of pinyon pine and Utah juniper. Other common plant species include big sagebrush, mountain mahogany, Utah serviceberry, single-leaf ash, yucca, Mormon tea, Gambel oak, and rabbitbrush.

Historic features: Colorado National Monument was designated on May 24, 1911.

Ornithological Importance

This site provides a protected environment of intact pinyon-juniper habitat, and offers a setting that is conducive to bird research.

Breeding species:	Average #	Maximum #
Gray Vireo		160 pairs
Gray Flycatcher		70-100 pairs
Juniper Titmouse		200-225 pairs
Virginia’s Warbler		50-75 pairs
Black-throated Gray Warbler		140-200 pairs
Peregrine Falcon		3 pairs

Conservation/Management Issues

Serious threats:
1. unknown breeding ecology of pinyon-juniper breeding bird species (which makes implementation of management policies difficult).

Minor threats:
1. cowbird parasitism.

Efforts to address threats:
Colorado Bird Observatory and the National Park Service are currently investigating the breeding ecology and requirements of pinyon-juniper birds at this site.

Management details:
Colorado National Monument is a Colorado Watchable Wildlife site.