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Kent A. Gorham Page Six February 1, 1993 need numerous perch sites scattered across the reclamation, in order to use it effectively. Much of the hunting is done while soaring or sitting on rock outcrops high above the reclamation. Although observing Golden Eagles actually taking prey is rare I have personally watched them sit on a high rock ledge and spot prey 3/4 of a mile away, fly directly to it and take it. One Prairie Falcon eyrie within 1000 ft. been monitored for several years (1985 - success of this pair was also high. Number of Year Young_Fledged 1985 4 1986 4 1987 1 Minimum 1988 4 of reclamation has also 1988). The reproductive During the past year (1992) nesting success of Redtailed Hawks was monitored along a two mile stretch of Twentymile Sandstone bordering Foidel Creek and adjacent to CYCC reclamation. Four active Redtail nests with a minimum of six young and six inactive buteo nests were observed. This was compared with data collected by USFWS (Collected by Mike Lockhart and obtained from USFWS Grand Junction office) in 1982. USFWS observations along the same stretch of Twentymile Sandstone shows three active Redtail nests and four inactive buteo nests. Once again, the data is indicative of healthy raptors not negatively impacted by existing reclamation. In addition, general observations indicate healthy numbers of raptors using the reclamation. Reclamation crews commented several times this past summer on the number of raptors they were seeing on the reclamation. Large numbers of Kestrals were seen on the reclamation this past fall during an inspection with Dan Mathews and Jim Morris (CDOW). CYCC does not believe there is any site specific evidence to support the Division's claim that lack of perches and small mammals preclude this area from being attractive to raptors for hunting. In fact the above sited data indicates just the opposite. I believe the Division has overestimated the number of perches necessary to make the site attractive; furthermore, CYCC's examination of the reclamation reveals many perch sites both from surrounding edge, topography and from front-end loader transplants of trees and shrubs. As previously stated, marmot populations are high on many parts of the reclamation. CYCC also conducted some small mammal trapping in 1983 on reclamation and an undisturbed site. Ten nights of trapping using Sherman live traps resulted in 64 individual small mammals on reclamation and 51 on the undisturbed site. It certainly seems reasonable that if the Division's above claim is true there should be some site specific evidence.