Impact of gondola construction and development on bird and mammal populations

Cucumber Gulch is a fen wetland surrounded by mixed conifer and shrubland habitat. The wetland lies at 10,000 feet in elevation and is located between the town of Breckenridge and the Breckenridge Ski Resort in Colorado. The wetland represents an endangered habitat and has been designated an ARNI (Aquatic Resource of National Importance) by the EPA. Because of its ecological significance, the Town of Breckenridge has consistently supported conservation monitoring. During the summer of 2006, the ski resort began a large-scale commercial and residential development upstream and adjacent to the wetland. They also installed a gondola that crosses directly over the wetland. Avian point counts and mammalian surveys have been conducted in and around the wetland since 2001. Only 56% of the neotropical migratory bird species were observed in 2006, after construction was initiated. In addition, only 32 Violet-green Swallow individuals (short distance migrant) were observed in 2006, down from 59 and 60 in the previous two years. Alternatively, the parasitic Brown-headed Cowbird numbers tripled in 2006. Beaver populations were unaffected by the gondola construction. For the past three years a female moose has utilized the area for calving and the construction disturbance throughout the summer months did not seem to interrupt this pattern. However, a resident male that had been sited in the area since 2001 became aggressive towards people and left the winter territory after the gondola became operational in December of 2006. Future surveys will reveal whether the animal population will recover from the gondola and nearby development.