Conservation Strategy For The Pinyon Jay Gymnorhinus Cyanocephalus

The Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) is an obligate bird of piñon-juniper and other pine-juniper woodlands that has experienced significant population declines and is of increasing conservation concern. The purpose of this strategy is to summarize current knowledge about Pinyon Jays and identify research, monitoring, and conservation actions required to improve their population status. Pinyon Jays are highly social and maintain year-round flocks that occupy large home ranges and use a variety of woodland habitats for foraging, caching piñon nuts, nesting, and roosting. The Partners in Flight North American Landbird Conservation Plan estimates a current global population of 770,000 Pinyon Jays. Over the period from 1967–2015, populations declined by 3.69% annually for an estimated total loss of 83.5%. The causes of these declines are unclear, largely because Pinyon Jays remain understudied. Most earlier research has occurred in New Mexico and Arizona and has focused on behavior or on habitat associations at nest colonies. More recent and ongoing research efforts are focused on understanding habitat requirements, resource needs, and movement patterns throughout the entire annual cycle in different regions of the species’ range. Future research needs include: identifying home ranges and nesting colony sites, habitat use and requirements, nesting biology and survival, assessing causes of local and regional declines, and assessing effects of management. As Pinyon Jay populations have declined, the piñon-juniper woodlands that provide most of their habitat also face potential threats, including removal of trees to accomplish other management priorities, long-term fire suppression, changes in woodland age and tree density, and changing climatic conditions that cause reduced piñon nut production and increased piñon pine mortality. Effective management and conservation of the Pinyon Jay depends on a better understanding of the species’ habitat requirements, identification of the factors that limit population size, and a clearer understanding of woodland dynamics and health. The information provided in this strategy to inform management is based on the best available science and is intended to help minimize unintended negative impacts to Pinyon Jays associated with current vegetation management activities. Collaboration between land managers and Pinyon Jay researchers provides a compelling approach to increase our knowledge of the species, better understand management trade-offs, and identify positive actions that could improve habitat for the species and reverse negative long-term population trends.