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I- <br />RESULTS <br />14,275 acres were surveyed in 1999 (USES-6,425, BLM-7,850). Total acres for USES survey <br />sites are as follows: Rock Creek-450, Little Fountain Creek-7(I(1, Maes Creek-725, St. Chazles- <br />1,100, Smith Creek-1,160, South Apache Creek-1,320. Pairs of Spotted Owls were found in <br />Phantom, Red Creek and St. Charles canyons. One juvenile bird was found in Red Creek. The <br />survey effort was reduced this year due to lack of funding, personnel limitations, and adverse <br />weather. Some sites received daytime visits with no nighttime calling and birds may have been <br />missed. Other sites were surveyed in poor weather conditions. High water in Beaver Creek <br />prevented a visit in West Mill Creek and made access into other sites difficult. <br />Phantom Canyon: Both adult male and female Spotted owls were located during a day visit <br />on 28 July in a very narrow, steep-ledged tributary of Phantom canyon. The tributary is an east <br />fork of the main drainage approximately one mile from the Phantom Canyon road. The birds <br />were detected roosting side by side on a low hanging branch of a conifer tree 2.5 meters from <br />the ground. Color bands were visible on the right leg of both birds (male-solid blue, female- <br />striped red/white). Both birds were banded in 1997. This is the same location that the female <br />and juvenile Spotted owls were found in 1998. No juvenile birds were detected with the adults, <br />however, no mice were offered and efforts were not made to check for juveniles during the <br />evening. Both the male and female vocalized for 5-10 minu[es in the canyon and no juvenile <br />birds were heard responding or food begging: <br />Red Creek Canyon: A single bird responded to our broadcast calls during a nocturnal visit on <br />12 May. No evidence of activity was found at the location where owls were found in 1998. <br />Both adults and one juvenile owl were found on 13 August roosing in the drainage bottom of <br />the canyon used successfully in 1993. This drainage is the left fork of Red Creek southwest of <br />the location where the birds were found in 1998. <br />