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III I~II~I I <br />124's ESTATES <br />ADAMS COUNTY,COLORADO <br />WESTERN BURROWING OWL SURVEY REPORT <br />(Alhene cunicu/aria) <br />Prepared by Savage and Savage <br />July 2001 <br />SUMMARY <br />Savage and Savage conducted a pedestrian survey for the presence of the State of <br />Colorado listed threatened western burrowing owl (Alhene cunicularia) within potential <br />critical habitat at the site. The survey was conducted for Banks and Gesso, LLC on <br />behalf of 124th Estates Partners at the proposed 124"' Estates project located in Adams <br />County, Colorado on July 25, 2001. The survey was conducted in accordance with <br />Colorado Division of Wildlife bulletin Suggestions for Handling Burrowing Owl Issues. <br />No individuals ofAthene cunicularia were found during the survey. <br />INTRODUCTION <br />Banks and Gesso, LLC requested the survey in advance of final planning for a mineral <br />extraction plan for 124's Estates Partners at the 124' Estates sand and gravel operation. <br />As part of the development plan Banks and Gesso, LLC requested identification and <br />survey of any potentially critical habitat for the weslem burrowing owl (Alhene <br />cunicularia). <br />The site contains approximately 35 acres located within in the NE%,SW%, and a portion of <br />the NW'/,SE'/, of Section 35 in T1S, R67W of the 6's Prime Meridian in Adams County, <br />Colorado. The property is located east of Henderson, Colorado, south of 124'" Avenue, <br />and immediately west of U.S. Highway 85. (See general location map) The 124's <br />Avenue property is bounded on all sides by a tall chain link fence. <br />While the burrowing owl does not fall under the protections of the federal Endangered <br />Species Act, it is protected under the federal Migratory Bird Act and State of Colorado <br />statutes that prohibit the killing of this species. In likely habitat areas, the Colorado <br />Division of Wildlife is requiting presence/absence surveys for the owL If the owl is <br />identified, mitigation or avoidance measlrres may be required. <br />The western burrowing owl is a summer migratory resident of Colorado, found primarily <br />in grasslands and mountain parks, usually in or near black-tailed prairie dog or <br />Richardson's ground squirrel colonies. The owls may also use well-drained steppes, <br />deserts, prairies, and agricuhural lands. The favored habitat is well-grazed, early <br />successional grasslands with significantly sandy soils. Owls have also been found in <br />vacant areas within cities and towns. As the owls are migratory residetas of Colorado, <br />they are not usually found in Colorado between November 1 and February 28. Where <br />land disturbing activities will occur within any of the identified habitats between March 1 <br />