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H-13 • H.3.1 Avifauna Bird surveys conducted in the Piceance Basin Region show that raptor, gamebird, and songbird species exist. The Colorado Field Ornithologist Latilong study lists a total of 278 bird species which could poten- tially occur in the study area (Kingery and Graul 1978). Cringan (1973) reported 25F! species of birds which could potentially occur in the Piceance Basin. A study conducted on the Rio Blanco Oil Shale Properties showed ghat 139 avian species were observed during a 2-year period (Rio Blanco Oil Shale Project 1977). The BLM (1960) found during an environmental baseline study conducted on the White River Resource Area that 186 bird species are known to occur in that area, including 21 rap to r• species, 27 species of game birds, and 138 songbird species. Lists of these species and their status are available in the documents cited. It should be noted that many of these species are • not present on thE~ sodium lease area since they are associated with habitats which do not exist on the study area. In addition, a number of species may be migrants or extra limital strays that occur only rarely in the region. Songbirds The songbird species in the study area are typical of those found in the Piceance Basin. Results of the LGL study (1981) showed that 66 species of songbirds were encountered on the sodium lease area; 24 species were encountered during the Emlen breeding bird surveys. This difference arises because 1) the Emlen surveys were conducted only during the breeding season, and 2) some breeding male birds do not sing on their territoriE~s and are missed by the Emlen survey. Of the 24 species encountered during the Emlen survey, 17 species were encountered in pinyon-juniper habitats, 9 in greasewood-sage bottoms, 8 • in sagebrush, and 6 in chained pinyon-juniper. Eight of the 24 species occurred in more tF~an one habitat. The most common species encountered THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS TRADE SECRETS AND PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL AND ~`,. ,I - ~•' PROPRIETARY COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, GEOLOGICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL DATA AND Y~On ~~ ~ OI INFORMATION. PURSUANT TO LAW, THOSE PORTIONS MARKED "CONFIDENTIAL" 7 MAY NOT BE DISCLOSE D, COPIED OR MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION.