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were also noted during the bird surveys. By walking slow and observing birds along the <br />corridor most, if not all, species of birds found in the area, are observed or heard. <br />All suitable raptor nesting habitat within the study area were checked for evidence of <br />active or inactive nests. For much of the area, mountain shrub (primarily Gambel oak) <br />dominates the landscape. None of this habitat type provides suitable conditions for raptor <br />nesting so it was not surveyed. There are some aspen stands in the vicinity and a pocket <br />of Douglas -fir is found nearby that were checked for nests. <br />FINDINGS <br />No T &E species listed by the USFWS or Colorado Division of Wildlife were observed <br />during the surveys. <br />The only USFS Sensitive species observed was the olive -sided flycatcher. This species <br />has been observed during other studies conducted for mining companies in the North <br />Fork Valley every year since 2002. <br />The only MIS species observed was the red -naped sapsucker. Red -naped sapsuckers were <br />observed during all surveys in aspen habitat. These birds are commonly observed in <br />aspen habitat throughout the North Fork Valley. Although no elk were observed there <br />was evidence of their having been in the project area. Elk are commonly observed and <br />have undoubtedly habituated to the presence of human activity along the Minnesota <br />Creek Road. <br />Bird species that were observed during the surveys are shown in Table 1. <br />OBSERVATIONS CONCERNING T & E, SENSITIVE AND MANAGEMENT <br />INDICATOR SPECIES <br />In reviewing the list of Threatened, Endangered, Sensitive (TES), or Management <br />Indicator Species and their habitat requirements provided by the USFS, the conclusion <br />can be drawn that habitat for most of these species is lacking or of poor quality at, and <br />around, the proposed project area. Given the habitat requirements of those species listed, <br />the possibility of affecting any habitat important to these species is minimal. It is known <br />that some of the listed species occur in the general area. However, no habitat considered <br />to be critical to nearly all these species will be affected. Also, there are large expanses of <br />the different habitat types found in this vicinity, and the loss of a minor amount of habitat <br />over the short term should have negligible affect on any of these species should they <br />occur. <br />T &E Species <br />In the project area, suitable habitat is lacking for the only ground dwelling Federal and <br />State listed T &E species. The project is located in an area that, except for a small isolated <br />pocked of Douglas fir mapped as suitable denning habitat and a small area of riparian <br />