PRESENCE/ABSENCE REPORT. CALIFORNIA GNATCATCHER (Polioptila californica californica) for Forest Lawn Memorial-Park, Hollywood Hills FOR THE

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1 PRESENCE/ABSENCE REPORT FOR THE CALIFORNIA GNATCATCHER (Polioptila californica californica) for Forest Lawn Memorial-Park, Hollywood Hills Located in a non-sectioned area of Township 1 north, Range 14 west, of the Burbank, California U.S.G.S. Topographic Quadrangle CITY OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Prepared for: United States Department of the Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Forest Lawn Memorial-Park Association Prepared by:

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3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION METHODS RESULTS... 4 APPENDIX A - BIRD SPECIES OBSERVED...A-1 APPENDIX B - REFERENCES...B-1 LIST OF APPENDED EXHIBITS AND ENCLOSED PLATES EXHIBIT 1 - REGIONAL LOCATION MAP... attached in order EXHIBIT 2 - U.S.G.S. TOPOGRAPHIC MAP... attached in order EXHIBIT 3 - SITE PHOTOGRAPHS... attached in order PLATE 1 - VEGETATION COMMUNITIES...enclosed in order LIST OF TABLES TABLE 1 - COASTAL CALIFORNIA GNATCATCHER SURVEY DATA SUMMARY... 6 i

4 Coastal California Gnatcatcher Report 1.0 INTRODUCTION This report is submitted in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Coastal California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) Presence/Absence Survey Guidelines re-issued by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, dated February 28, 1997, and pursuant to 10 (a) Recovery, Permit No. TE issued to Samuel Reed as an authorized surveyor. Surveys were initiated by TERACOR Resource Management (TERACOR) to determine the presence or absence of coastal California gnatcatcher (CAGN) on the Forest Lawn Memorial-Park, Hollywood Hills Property (Forest Lawn Property). Findings of protocol surveys are presented herein. Surveys were conducted within appropriate habitat on the Forest Lawn Property, as prescribed in the Protocol. Areas considered unsuitable for CAGN occupation consisted of steeper chaparral areas, developed areas, and sycamore, walnut, and oak woodlands. These areas were excluded from surveys. All bird sightings and vocalizations were recorded. All field procedures were conducted in compliance with the conditions outlined in the surveyor=s permit. No CAGN were detected during surveys. Project Location The Forest Lawn Property is located approximately one-quarter mile south of State Highway 134 in the County of Los Angeles. The physical address of the Forest Lawn Property is 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, California. The location of the Forest Lawn Property relative to local thoroughfares is illustrated in Exhibit 1 - Regional Location Map, attached. The approximate 443 acre Forest Lawn Property is bordered by Griffith Park and associated vacant lands to the east, west, and south. Forest Lawn Drive borders the Forest Lawn Property to the north and west. The Los Angeles River is located on the north side of Forest Lawn Drive. Mount Sinai Memorial Park is located immediately adjacent to the Forest Lawn Property along Forest Lawn Drive. Geographically, the Forest Lawn Property is approximately 0.5 mile northeast of Cahuenga Peak in the Hollywood Hills. It is located within a non-sectioned area of Township 1 north, Range 14 west, of the Burbank, California United States Geological Survey 7.5 minute Quadrangle. Exhibit 2 - USGS Topographic Map, attached, illustrates the geographic location and topography of the Forest Lawn Property. 2

5 Coastal California Gnatcatcher Report Bird Species Background Coastal California Gnatcatcher This organism typically prefers to breed in open sage scrub with California sagebrush (Artemisia californica) as a dominant or co-dominant species and is more abundant near sage scrub-grassland interface than where sage scrub grades into chaparral (Mock, 2004). Both the male and female incubate nests, which takes approximately 14 days. Chick development is altricial (newly hatched birds are immobile, downless, eyes closed, fed by parents), and young typically leave the nest after days (Mock, 2004). CAGN are groundforaging and shrub-foraging insectivores (Mock, 2004). Coastal California gnatcatcher, a subspecies of California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica), is restricted to Baja California, Mexico, and coastal/cismontane areas of southern California (Mock, 2004). This avian subspecies is currently listed as federally threatened due to habitat loss and fragmentation. Coastal California gnatcatcher habitat typically consists of sage scrub and sage scrub associations. The species= nests are susceptible to nest parasitism by brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater), and both abandonment and the raising of cowbird young have been observed (Mock, 2004). Coastal California gnatcatcher remains on the nesting territory throughout the year, and expands their home range during the non-breeding season (Mock, 2004). Survey Area The survey areas were comprised of Venturan coastal sage scrub, coastal sage chaparral scrub, and non-native grassland. Venturan coastal sage scrub comprises acres and coastal sage chaparral scrub comprises 9.03 acres of the Forest Lawn Property. All areas containing Venturan coastal sage scrub and coastal sage chaparral scrub on the Forest Lawn Property were surveyed for CAGN. Non-native grassland comprises 7.77 acres of the Forest Lawn Property, however, only approximately 6.0 acres of non-native grassland was adjacent to suitable CAGN habitat and was surveyed. The total acres of structurally-suitable CAGN habitat surveyed on the Forest Lawn Property, therefore, was approximately acres. All vegetation communities on the Forest Lawn Property are depicted in Plate 1 - Vegetation Communities, enclosed, though the only communities considered suitable for CAGN were Venturan coastal sage scrub, coastal sage chaparral scrub, and ecotonal non-native grassland. 3

6 Coastal California Gnatcatcher Report 2.0 METHODS Field Visits and Survey Methods Survey methodologies were consistent with established survey protocols. All of the required six (6) surveys were conducted at time periods between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)-designated breeding survey window. Weather was suitable for detection of CAGN, as well as within the survey parameters set-forth by the USFWS protocol. In conducting the surveys, USFWS-permitted biologist S. Reed slowly walked the survey area during each of the six (6) survey intervals. Due to the size of the Forest Lawn Property, each of the surveys had a duration of 4.00 hours. Attempts to locate CAGN began with the least disruptive and intrusive method of attraction/location and graduated to the utilization of taped vocalizations of CAGN. Initially, the standard Apishing@ method was used. This largely unobtrusive technique is widely used and accepted by ornithologists and birders as a means of attracting birds as well as stimulating them to vocalize, aiding in detection. Taped vocalizations of the gnatcatcher were also utilized for periods of no longer than ten (10) seconds at any one transect interval. CAGN is often heard and not seen. The organism vigorously defends breeding/nesting territory and vocalizations are a common defensive behavior. AHeard-only detections@ are considered valid Asightings@, as surveyors may determine that attempts to flush CAGN from brush are too disruptive during the nesting season. Surveys were conducted on 29 March 2007, 06 April 2007, 15 April 2007, 03 May 2007, 17 May 2007, and 24 May CNDDB Query The State of California maintains the California Natural Diversity Data Base (CNDDB), which is a computerized inventory of information on the recorded locations of California=s rare, threatened, endangered, and otherwise sensitive plants, animals, and natural communities. Updates to the CNDDB are issued monthly. Valuable information regarding the species occurrence, population numbers, observers, occurrence dates and potential threats to the organism(s) are included for each occurrence record. TERACOR queried the Burbank, California Quadrangle and surrounding quadrangles specifically for CAGN locations, and the results of that query are explained below. 4

7 Coastal California Gnatcatcher Report Vegetation References to the vegetation on the Forest Lawn Property reflects information contained in Preliminary Descriptions of the Terrestrial Natural Communities of California, (Holland, 1986 and updated in 1992) and A Manual of California Vegetation (Sawyer and Keeler-Wolf, 1995). Botanical nomenclature reflects that of The Jepson Manual - Higher Plants of California (Hickman, 1993). All vegetation communities on the Forest Lawn Property have been mapped on Plate 1 - Vegetation Communities, enclosed, though only those communities considered suitable for gnatcatcher are discussed in the Results section. 3.0 RESULTS CNDDB Query Results The CNDDB query of the Burbank, California Quadrangle resulted in two (2) recorded sightings of CAGN within the quadrangle. One (1) sighting occurred in 1901 near the Burbank Airport. The other sighting occurred in 1991 when an adult female was attracted to a taped CAGN call. The recorded sighting was approximately 4.6 miles north of the Forest Lawn Property near Cabrini Canyon in the Verdugo Mountains. Vegetation Venturan Coastal Sage Scrub (CNDDB Vegetation Code ) Venturan coastal sage scrub (CSS) is the dominant native vegetation community within the Forest Lawn Property. Dominant characteristic species for sage scrub assemblages on the Forest Lawn Property include California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), California sagebrush (Artemisia californica), black sage (Salvia mellifera), laurel sumac (Malosma laurina), lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia), and deerweed (Lotus scoparius). This vegetative composition and habitat type appeared suitable for CAGN occupation, as did the topography of the Forest Lawn Property. Venturan coastal sage scrub encompasses acres. Coastal Sage Chaparral Scrub (CNDDB Vegetation Code ) Coastal sage chaparral scrub is considered an ecotonal community type between coastal sage scrub and chaparral because it contains elements of both community types. Coastal sage chaparral scrub (CSC) is a mix of woody chaparral and coastal sage scrub species, and is most likely a post-fire successional community. It can also, however, occur when there are abrupt changes in soil depth and moisture due to geologic conditions below the soil profile. Species observed on the Forest Lawn Property within this community included chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), California buckwheat, California sagebrush, toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), greenbark ceanothus (Ceanothus spinosus), and black sage. This community mix is considered 5

8 Coastal California Gnatcatcher Report marginally suitable for CAGN, and so these mixed community types were included in the surveys. This community comprises 9.03 acres of the Forest Lawn Property. Non-native Grassland (CNDDB Code No ) Non-native grassland (NNG) on the Forest Lawn Property is dominantly comprised of brome (Bromus spp.), barley (Hordeum murinum), Mediterranean schismus (Schismus barbatus), filaree (Erodium spp.), mustard (Brassica spp. and Hirschfeldia spp.), and Italian thistle (Carduus pycnocephalus). A number of native annual herbaceous species were also recorded during field surveys, such as fiddleneck (Amsinckia menziesii), blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium bellum), Tejon cryptantha (Cryptantha microstachys), telegraph weed (Heterotheca grandiflora), and ragweed (Ambrosia spp.). Habitat values were generally low in non-native grassland areas. Although these plants provide little value to CAGN as compared to naturallyoccurring scrub and native grassland systems, CAGN will forage within NNG, particularly if it occurs in association with sage scrub. This community comprises 7.77 acres of the Forest Lawn Property, however, as noted above, only approximately 6.0 acres of this community was adjacent to suitable CAGN habitat. Vegetation assemblages within suitable habitat areas and general conditions on the Forest Lawn Property during the course of protocol surveys are depicted in the attached, Exhibit 3 - Site Photographs. Survey Results CAGN was not detected during the course of six (6) surveys on the Forest Lawn Property. CAGN is known to have occurred historically in the nearby Cahuenga Pass area, as demonstrated by LACM museum records and material, but no records are available for CAGN in this area over the last several decades. The absence of CAGN on the Forest Lawn Property may be due to the combined effects of the adjacent historic development of properties in the area, and, the general rarity of the species. During the regular course of protocol surveys for CAGN, no other State or Federal threatened or endangered species were detected on the Forest Lawn Property. A list of the fifty-three (53) bird species observed during the surveys conducted on the Forest Lawn Property has been included with this report as Appendix A. Table 1 - California Gnatcatcher Survey Data Summary, below, presents the data the survey team recorded with regard to survey dates, times, acres surveyed, and meteorological conditions. No CAGN were detected on any survey dates. 6

9 Coastal California Gnatcatcher Report Table 1 - CAGN Survey Data Summary Date Time of Survey Temperature (F) (Beginning - Ending) % Cloud Cover Wind Speed (mph) 29 March April April May May May Recommendation: Based on the findings of this focused survey, implementation of the project would not result in incidental Atake@ of CAGN. TERACOR, therefore, recommends that no further CAGN surveys are necessary for the Forest Lawn Property. 7

10 BUENA VISTA ST CAHUENGA BLVD HOLLYWOOD WAY NORTH HOLLYWOOD BURBANK 170 LANKERSHIM BLVD HOLLYWOOD FREEWAY CAMARILLO ST 134 RIVERSIDE DRIVE TOLUCA LAKE VENTURA FREEWAY VERDUGO AVE Forest Lawn Property OLIVE AVE ALAMEDA AVE RIVERSIDE DRIVE FOREST LAWN DRIVE Forest Lawn Memorial-Park, Hollywood Hills 134 Mount Sinai Memorial Park ZOO DR GRIFFI T H ZOO DR PARK DR MT. HOLLYWOOD DRIVE VENTURABLVD 101 UNIVERSAL CITY MULHOLLAND DR L O S CAHUENGABLVD WEST A N G E L E S HOLLYWOOD Sign GRIFFITH PARK WESTERN CANYON ROAD WOODROW WILSON DR CAHUENGA BLVD HOLLYWOOD HILLS LAUREL CANYON BLVD NICHOLS CANYON RD MULHOLLAND DR Runyon Canyon Park OUTPOST DR EAST ODIN ST Hollywood Reservoir HOLLYWOOD FREEWAY BEACHWOOD CANYON DR FRANKLIN AVE FERN DELLDR LOS FELIZ BLVD Not to Scale FRANKLIN AVE HOLLYWOOD BLVD HOLLYWOOD SUNSET BLVD FOREST LAWN MEMORIAL-PARK, HOLLYWOOD HILLS JULY 2007 HIGHLAND AVE CAHUENGA BLVD VINE ST GOWER ST 101 WESTERNAVE SUNSET BLVD Exhibit 1 Regional Location Map

11 Forest Lawn Property FOREST LAWN MEMORIAL PARK HOLLYWOOD HILLS JULY 2007 SOURCE: BURBANK, CALIFORNIA QUADRANGLE Exhibit 2 USGS Topographic Map

12 Photo 1 - This photograph depicts general conditions in the natural areas of the Forest Lawn Property. California gnatcatcher (CAGN) (Polioptila californica) was not detected during field surveys. Photo 2 - Deerweed scrub (a subtype community of coastal sage scrub) is depicted in this photograph. CAGN was not detected within this community on the Forest Lawn Property. Photo 3 - Survey areas are comprised of Venturan coastal sage scrub, coastal sage chaparral scrub, and non-native grassland. Photo 4 - Non-native grassland and Venturan coastal sage scrub are present in lower elevations. This community transitions to mixed chaparral and sycamore, walnut, and oak woodlands in higher elevations and shaded ravines. Photo 5 - Venturan coastal sage scrub comprises 37% of the native vegetation communities within the Forest Lawn Property. CAGN was not detected on the Forest Lawn Property. FOREST LAWN MEMORIAL-PARK, HOLLYWOOD HILLS JULY 2007 Exhibit 3 Site Photographs

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14 APPENDIX A BIRD SPECIES OBSERVED All bird species detected were identified by sight utilizing 10x42 binoculars, or by the sound of the bird=s call. Questionable identifications were confirmed in the field utilizing The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America (Sibley 2003). Non-native species are denoted with an asterisk (*). Scientific Name Common Name Accipitridae Hawks, Eagles, Kites Accipiter cooperii Buteo jamaicensis Buteo lineatus Cooper=s hawk red-tailed hawk red-shouldered hawk Aegithalidae Bushtits Psaltriparus minimus bushtit Anatidae Swans, Geese, Ducks Anas platyrhynchos mallard Cardinalidae Cardinals Pheucticus melanocephalus black-headed grosbeak A-1

15 Charadriidae Lapwings, Plovers Charadrius vociferus killdeer Columbidae Pigeons, Doves Columba livia* Zenaida macroura rock pigeon mourning dove Corvidae Crows, Jays Aphelocoma coerulescens Corvus brachyrhynchos Corvus corax western scrub jay American crow common raven Emberizidae Emberizids Melospiza melodia Pipilo crissalis Pipilo maculatus Zonotrichia leucophrys song sparrow California towhee spotted towhee white-crowned sparrow Falconidae Falcons Falco sparverius American kestrel A-2

16 Fringillidae Finches Carpodacus mexicanus Carduelis psaltria Carduelis tristis house finch lesser goldfinch American goldfinch Hirundinidae Swallows, Martins Hirundo rustica Stelgidopteryx serripennis barn swallow Northern rough-winged swallow Icteridae Blackbirds Euphagus cyanocephalus Brewer=s blackbird Mimidae Mockingbirds, Thrashers Mimus polyglottos Toxostoma redivivum northern mockingbird California thrasher Odontophoridae New World Quail Callipepla californica California quail A-3

17 Paridae Chickadees, Titmice Baeolophus inornatus oak titmouse Parulidae Wood Warblers Dendroica coronata Dendroica nigrescens Dendroica petechia Vermivora ruficapilla Wilsonia pusilla yellow-rumped warbler black-throated gray warbler yellow warbler Nashville warbler Wilson=s warbler Passeridae Old World Sparrows Passer domesticus* house sparrow Picidae Woodpeckers Colaptes auratus Picoides nuttallii Picoides pubescens northern flicker Nuttall=s woodpecker downy woodpecker Ptilogonatidae Silky-Flycatchers Phainopepla nitens phainopepla A-4

18 Sittidae Nuthatches Sitta carolinensis white-breasted nuthatch Sylviidae Flycatchers Polioptila caerulea blue-gray gnatcatcher Timaliidae Babblers Chamaea fasciata wrentit Trochilidae Hummingbirds Archilochus alexandri Calypte anna Calypte costae Selasphorus rufus Selasphorus sasin black-chinned hummingbird Anna=s hummingbird Costa=s hummingbird rufous hummingbird Allen=s hummingbird Troglodytidae Wrens Thryomanes bewickii Troglodytes aedon Bewick=s wren house wren A-5

19 Turdidae Thrushes Turdus migratorius American robin Tyrannidae Tyrant Flycatchers Empidonax difficilis Myiarchus cinerascens Sayornis nigricans Tyrannus verticalis Tyrannus vociferans Pacific slope flycatcher ash-throated flycatcher black phoebe western kingbird Cassin=s kingbird A-6

20 APPENDIX B REFERENCES Baicich, Paul J., and Harrison, Colin J.O., A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds, Academic Press, 1997, 347 pages. California Natural Diversity Data Base, Burbank Quadrangle California Department of Fish and Game, Natural Heritage Division, California Department of Fish and Game, July Special Vascular Plants, Bryophytes, and Lichens List, Natural Heritage Division, Natural Diversity Data Base, 78 pages. California Department of Fish and Game, February Special Animals, Natural Heritage Division, Natural Diversity Data Base, 55 pages. California Department of Fish and Game, July State and Federally Listed Endangered, Threatened, and Rare Plants of California, Natural Heritage Division, Plant Conservation Program, 16 pages. California Department of Fish and Game, October State and Federally Listed Endangered and Threatened Animals of California, Natural Heritage Division, 12 pages. Dunn, Jon L., Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 3 rd Edition, National Geographic Washington D.C., 1999, 480 pages. Hickman, James C., The Jepson Manual of Higher Plants of California, University of California Press, 1993, 1400 pages. Holland, Robert F., Preliminary Description of the Terrestrial Natural Communities of California, California Department of Fish and Game, 1986, 156 pages. Mock, Patrick J., California Partners in Flight Coastal Scrub and Chaparral Bird Conservation Plan. California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica): a strategy for protecting and managing coastal scrub and chaparral habitats and associated birds in California October Sawyer, John O., and Keeler-Wolf, Todd, A Manual of California Vegetation, California Native Plant Society, 1995, 471 pages. B-1

21 Appendix B - References Small, Arnold, California Birds: Their Status and Distribution, Ibis Publishing Company, 1994, 342 pages. Sibley, D. A The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America. A. Knopf, Inc. 473 pages. United States Geological Survey, 1966, photo-revised 1972, Burbank, California Quadrangle, U.S.G.S. Topographic Quadrangle Map, one sheet per quadrangle. United States Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Coastal California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) Presence/Absence Survey Guidelines, February 28, Weather Underground, Burbank, California. July B-2