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<br />CHAPTERTHREE Affected Environment <br />forage in open vegetative types throughout the Piceance Basin during the winter months. <br />Generally, raptors would return to azeas in which they have nested in the past, ofren using the <br />same nest sites. Nesting activities aze initiated inmid-February to late April; eggs aze laid during <br />1 March and April. Brooding of the eggs continues until eggs hatch, at which point pazental Gaze <br />of the nestlings occurs until the young fledge. Nest occupation continues until chicks aze <br />fledged, which usually occurs from eazly June to mid-August. <br />Piceance Site <br />Raptors known to occur in the vicinity of the Piceance Site include sharp-shinned and Cooper's <br />hawk, golden eagle, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel, and long-eazed owl. Northern goshawk <br />and peregrine falcon occur in the vicinity of Piceance Site (Hollowed 1998) and aze special status <br />' species discussed in Section 3.10. <br />Raptor nest surveys were conducted in 1998 and covered the entire western portion of the lease <br />area except for the northeast quarter of Section 15 (Cedaz Creek Associates 1998). May and June <br />field surveys documented the presence ofred-tailed hawk, golden eagle, American kestrel, and <br />great homed owl within the survey azea. Confirmed nesting use was documented only for golden <br />eagle and American kestrel in 1998 (one nest each). BLM surveys in 1996 also indicated <br />probable nesting by Cooper's hawk and long-eazed owl. Twelve unoccupied nests were found in <br />1998. The configuration and construction of unoccupied nests found in 1998 indicated possible <br />past nesting by red-tailed hawk, sharp-shinned hawk, and northern goshawk. Afrer examination <br />of the possible goshawk nest, BLM biologists believe it moce likely to be ared-tailed hawk nest <br />(BLM 1998d). BLM (1982) and CDOW (1998) data locate seven golden eagle and two red- <br />tailed hawk nests on or adjacent to the Piceance Site, mainly near Piceance Creek (CDOW 1998). <br />Some of these may be the same as those covered in the 1998 raptor survey. <br />' Pipeline Corridor <br />Most of the pipeline corridor was included in raptor nest surveys conducted in June and early <br />July 1998 (Cedaz Creek Associates 1998). Species observed included northern harrier, sharp- <br />shinned hawk, red-tailed hawk, Swainson's hawk, golden eagle, and peregrine falcon. Nine nests <br />were located within the pipeline survey azea (400 feet on either side of the pipeline right-of--way <br />[ROW]). Only two were occupied in 1998, by red-tailed hawk and raven. The co~guration and <br />construction of the unoccupied nests indicated possible past nesting by Cooper's hawk or sharp- <br />shinned hawk, red-tailed hawk, golden eagle, and long-eazed owl. Observations of northern <br />harrier behavior suggest that a nest was present north of Davis Point, but it was not located. <br />The portions of the pipeline dropping down from Davis Point and along Pazachute Creek (MPs <br />32 to 43) were not surveyed due to access limitations. Surveys performed by Bio-Resources <br />(1995) located 14 nests along the Parachute Creek riparian corridor. Activity status and species <br />were not determined. The section between MPs 32 and 35 has not been included in recent raptor <br />L nest surveys. One hawk (Buteo sp.) nest is reported to occur near MP 32 (CDOW 1998). <br />Wildlife 3-35 <br />