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WILDLIFE RESOURCES ASSESSMENT <br />DUCKWORTH PIT, WELD COUNTY, COLORADO <br />range, although mule deer would be expected to occasionally visit the site. The proposed <br />project will not substantially impact lazge mammal species. <br />Small Mammals <br />Smaller mammals such as desert cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus audubonii), deer mice <br />(Peromyscus maniculatus) and pocket gophers (Geomys bursarius) also utilize the habitat <br />within the project site. Desert cottontails were observed using abandoned prairie dog <br />burrows. Signs of digging by pocket gophers were observed in a few locations in the <br />northern portion of the site. As described above, prairie dogs aze locally common in the <br />project area. <br />Birds <br />Many species of birds occur in the grasslands and cultivated areas of the project azea. <br />Western meadowlarks (Sturnella neglecta) and horned lazks (Eremophila alpestris) are <br />especially common in the grasslands. Other bird species observed during fieldwork, <br />European stazling (Sturnus vulgaris), rock dove (Columba Livia), redwing blackbird <br />(Agelaius phoeniceus), American robin (Turdus migratorius), black-billed magpie (Pica <br />pica), killdeer (Charadrius vociferous), brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater), and <br />common grackle (Quiscatus quiscula). The western meadowlark, horned lark, American <br />robin, black-billed magpie, and killdeer probably nest at the site. The robin, starling, rock <br />dove, and house sparrow are species commonly associated with urban or suburban areas <br />and probably breed in the surrounding developed azeas or farmsteads. <br />Bird Nests <br />A survey for active migratory bird nests, including raptor nests, was also included as <br />part of the site assessment. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects raptors and migratory <br />birds. If an active nest or a tree containing a nest of any migratory bird species needs to <br />be removed, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service should be contacted to obtain a nest <br />depredation permit. <br />A through search of the site found very little evidence of tree nesting bird species. A <br />cup nest, likely constructed by a robin, was found in a balsamlelm grove in the southwest <br />1 O ERO <br />Rewu¢es <br />(orpmnlien <br />