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T~+o bald eagles overwintered along the Yampa River near Hayden during <br />1979-1980 (personal ~muLication, March 1980, Brandon (Yebence, BIM). • <br />The closest known bald eagle winter roost to the study area is located along <br />the Yana River approximately 8 miles southwest of Craig, Colorado and <br />was probably the souroe of the bald eagle sighted on the study area in <br />1978. Bald eagles require open water supporting waterfowl populations <br />during the winter. No such habitat exists on the study area. The <br />closest water body supporting waterfowl during the winter is the Yampa <br />giver, appmx;mately 6 miles to the north of the study azea. <br />Waterfowl. Nine ponds that might support breeding populations of waterfowl <br />are present on or near the study area (Map 1, Appendix A). Although <br />waterfowl were not observed on the study area during fall migration, it is <br />possible that the water bodies on site are used as resting and feeding <br />stations during migration. The study azea occurs on the western edge of <br />the Central Flyway (Linduska, 1964). Possible migrants through the study <br />area include pintail, mallard, baldpate, gadwall, green-winged teal and <br />Cinnamin teal, • <br />The study area itself cannot be considered good waterfowl habitat. Very <br />little ~rnnn;al W3tpS and a[juati.c vegetation capable of supporting water- <br />fowl are available on the site. The lazgest pP*~*+n~al Water bodies <br />hazboring waterfowl populations near the study area are the Yampa giver, <br />approximately 10 miles north, and the Grassy Creek, approximately 4 miles <br />west. Duck density on the Yampa River and Grassy Creek were estimated <br />by the DOW (1978) as 15.05 and 15.48 individuals/sq. mi., respectively. <br />The mallard eras the only species observed breeding on ponds near the <br />study area during 1979. One pair with 7 young was observed on the pond <br />located in T5N R87W Section ~;. Three ducklings were observed on the <br />Wadge In~poundtrn~t lrxated adjacent to the mine hAa~,arr-ArS during June <br />Q7ap 1, Appendix A). Lack of sufficient pond-site vegetation reduces <br />the potential of other ponds within the study area to support nesting <br />waterfowl. <br />• <br />-48- <br />