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There is suitable purple martin habitat in the project area. Only a very minor amount of <br />suitable habitat will be affected through the taking of a few mature aspen trees. <br />However, there aze lazge expanses of mature aspen stands in the area and the taking of a <br />few trees would not adversely affect these birds. Project activities will not impact purple <br />martin reproductive behavior. Long term and cumulative impacts on purple martin are <br />not expected to occur. This project will not impact the viability of the species, or result <br />in a trend of purple martin towazds federal listing. <br />Three-toed woodpecker: Potential habitat for three-toed woodpecker is mixed- <br />coniferous forest containing spruce-fir, lodgepole pine, or aspen, with abundant dead and <br />decayed trees, between 4000 and 9000 feet elevation. The three-toed woodpecker is a <br />snag-dependent species, which typically occurs at low endemic levels until abundant <br />dead and decayed trees, in diseased and/or newly burned azeas, become available. Nest <br />cavities aze excavated in trees with heart rot, while snags with the most bark and limbs <br />remaining on are used for foraging on wood-boring larvae of moths and beetles, <br />caterpillars, and ants. Snags are required for feeding, perching, nesting, and roosting. <br />None of these birds were observed during the surveys or while conducting surveys for <br />other projects in the North Fork Valley. <br />There is suitablethree-toed woodpecker habitat in the project azea. The amount of <br />suitable habitat for this species is very limited. There aze other areas on the forest that <br />provide lazge expanses of more suitable habitat for this species. Project activities will not <br />impact three-toed woodpecker reproductive behavior. Long term and cumulative impacts <br />on three-toed woodpeckers will not occur. This project will not impact the viability of <br />the species, or result in a trend of three-toed woodpecker towazds federal listing. <br />Brewer's Sparrow: The Brewer's sparrow is a common summer resident in the region <br />in basins and on plateaus, primarily between elevations of 5,000 and 7,500 feet. It <br />commonly nests in sagebmsh, and will nest in other brushy habitats, such as greasewood <br />and rabbitbrush in desert valleys, and in snowberry at higher elevations. <br />None of these birds were observed during surveys conducted in 2005. With the exception <br />of a few small sagebrush pockets, suitable nesting habitat is lacking in the project azea. <br />The minimal amount of suitable habitat minimizes the chances of this bird occurring in <br />the area. Long term and cumulative impacts on Brewer's sparrow are not expected to <br />occur. This project will not impact the viability of the species, or result in a trend of <br />Brewer's sparrow towards federal listing. <br />Boreal toad: The boreal toad was discussed in the Biological Assessment section of this <br />document. <br />Northern leopard frog: Typical habitat for the northern leopazd frog includes wet <br />meadows and the banks and shallows of marshes, ponds, lakes, reservoirs, streams, and <br />irrigation ditches {CDOW 2004). The species range can extend to above 11,000 feet in <br />elevation and occurs throughout most of western Colorado (CDOW 2004). The leopazd <br />frog in known to occur in the Gunnison National Forest, but has not been documented in <br />the project area. <br />28 <br />