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<br />+~ a literature search, the peregrine falcon, northern bald eagle and black-footed <br />ferret could occur on the study area; therefore ground surveys were conducted <br />to deternune whet2~.es potential nesting, roosting or hunting habitat existed on <br />the study area for these species (see Results, page 48). The methodology for <br />these ground searches are described in detail below. <br />The importance of the study area to bald eagles was asce ~~ ed by determining <br />the presence and extent of all areas of open water with nearby tall trees. <br />large expanses of open water and nearby tall trees are required for success- <br />ful nesting o£ bald eagles (Snow 1973). Likewise, open water supporting <br />waterfowl throughout the winter season can serve as a £ood source £or bald <br />eagles during winter, Wintering bald eagles also feed extensively on carrion. <br />Preferred nesting habitat of peregrine falcons generally consists of cliffs <br />that are rn~ite high, often ovexlook water, and allow an extensive view of the <br />surrounding countryside (tii,3cey 1942) , "" The area within a 5-mile radius of <br />• the study area was surveyed tD identify potential peregrine nesting habitat. <br />e_ <br />Potential black-footed ferret habitat in the form of prairie dog towns does <br />exist on the study area. The techniques outlined by Henderson et al. (1974) <br />were implemented to identify possible black-footed ferret activity at the <br />project site. The initial ground observation of a prairie dog colony took <br />place from a vehicle since prairie dogs are more wary of a person on foot <br />(Henderson et al. 1974). Each colony was carefully observed through 9x35mm <br />b~n~•~ars for ferrets and to note prairie dog behavior. Their benavior could <br />be an indicator of a ferret's presence in the colony (Henderson et al. 1974). <br />For exan~le, if a ferret is at the entrance of a burrow, the prairie dogs wi21 <br />sit at their burrow looking in the ferret's direction. Prairie dogs will move <br />excitedly towards a ferret that is above ground. If a ferret goes dawn a <br />bursa, the prairie dogs will attempt to Dover the entrance (Henderson et al. <br />1947). However, Clark (1978) suggested that prairie dog behavior is of-mLnimal <br />value in locating ferrets, since this excited behavior is also seen in towns <br />wiLich are frequented by hunters. If the initial observation fran a vehicle <br />did not yield the possible presence of a ferret, the town was searched for <br />-12- <br />• <br />,1UN 1 ! 1990 <br />(Revised August 2006) Attachment 2.04.10-10-19 <br />