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c-J (.0 N o .:~ CHAPTER II UNIT SETTING .,....' Much of the natural vegetation away from the river is supported directly or indirectly by irrigation waters. Above the irrigated areas, sagebush, saltbush, and pinyon-juniper are predominant south of the river, while scattered saltbush is common on desert lands north of the river. Eight major wildli fe habitat types are found in the area. These types are agricultural, the largest type; urban; aquatic; marsh; pinyon- juniper woodland; river woodland; phreatophytic shrub; and desert shrub. Wildlife in the area varies greatly as would be expected with such a diversified urban-rural agricultural mix. Species include various bird types ranging from urban dwellers such as dove, starling, and sparrows to game species such as pheasant, quail, and mourning dove and raptors such as the red-tailed hawk and northern harrier. Mice, skunks, beaver, muskrat, and cottonwood rabbit are a few of the smaller mammals that inhabit the unit area in considerable numbers. Larger mannnal species include deer and antelope which prevail where preferred vegetation is found and human contact is limited. The variety of wildlife species indicates their capacity to utilize existing habitats as well as to adapt to the influence of urban and agricultural development wi thin the unit area. Endangered species . Three species of birds classified as endangered may visit or occasionally migrate through the valley. These are the whooping crane, the peregrine falcon, and the bald eagle. Recorded sightings of the peregrine falcon have occurred in the Grand Valley, and it lS likely that individual falcons pass through the area during migration periods. The 9