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4 ~ 28 <br />• Although the valley floors within the lease area have the greatest bird diversity, the rimrock <br />on the higher slopes are more important as nesting habitat for raptors, particularly golden <br />eagles. Red-tailed hawks and golden eagles were observed perched and hunting among the <br />rimrock on a number of occasions. Nests of these species, however, were not located even <br />though the cliff faces were carefully examined. <br />Mourning doves were common in the lease area, although they were not as numerous as <br />long a proposed rail line corridor route. Chuckar were seen only once, with a group of five birds <br />having been observed in July near East Salt Creek. <br />WATERFOWL AND WATERBIRDS <br />Waterfowl were not observed within the lease area, although mallards probably occur <br />occasionally. The spotted sandpiper was the only species of shorebird observed. The open <br />water habitat of East Salt Creek, although valuable to wildlife, is not a high quality habitat for <br />semiaquatic birds. <br />• 4.3.6 REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS <br />The lease area does not represent an important area in terms of habitat for reptiles and <br />amphibians. Only three species were identified: the northern plateau lizard, Sec%porus <br />Undu/atus, the collared lizard, Crotophytus Co//axis, and the desert short-homed lizard, <br />Phrynosoma Doug/assi. None of these species were numerous at the sites where they were <br />observed. <br />4.3.7 AQUATIC RESOURCES <br />There are no aquatic resources within the boundaries of the lease area or the permit area <br />that would support permanent fish populations. East Salt Creek and its tributaries in these <br />upstream areas remain dry much of the year. <br /> <br />M~ Volume 1 4 ~ 29 - 96 <br />