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[~eccmber 1, 2003 Paye 3-1 7 <br />small size of suitable forest patches. Goshawks remain in winter, and may occur periodically in the LBA <br />tract area outside of the nesting season. <br />Olive-sided Flycatcher. Olive-sided flycatchers are neo-tropical migrants nesting in coniferous forests <br />and woodlands with adequate snags, often near water (Altman and Sallabanks, 2000). This species nests <br />in the North Fork watershed (Kingery, 1998), and probably occur in the LBA tract area as summer <br />breeders and spring and fall migrants. Riparian forests along Raven Gulch provide good nesting and <br />foraging habitat for olive-sided flycatchers. <br />Lewis's Woodpecker. In Colorado, Lewis's woodpeckers are yearlong residents that migrate <br />attitudinally, common up to 7,000 feet and rarer at higher elevations (Andrews and Righter, 1992). Nest <br />sites are usually in riparian cottonwood woodlands (Kingery, t 998), and they rely on soft dead wood <br />provided by snags. Lewis's woodpeckers winter in areas of abundant mast, such as oak woodlands or <br />agricultural areas. Lewis's woodpeckers breed in the North Fork watershed (Kingery, 1998) and may <br />breed or winter in the LBA tract area in lower riparian forests in open stands of narrowleaf cottonwood <br />and conifers with abundant snags. <br />Purple Martin. Purple martins are neotropical migrants, in Colorado nesting in old woodpecker holes at <br />edges of aspen stands, usually near water. Purple martins breed in the North Fork watershed (Kingery, <br />1998), and may nest in the LBA tract in aspen stand edges. <br />Tiger Salamander. Tiger salamanders are found in virtually all non-flowing aquatic habitats in Colorado <br />(Hammerson, 1999). They prefer mud-bottomed ponds, lakes, and reservoirs for breeding and larval <br />stages, and adult tiger salamanders occur on land in dense vegetation or under debris, sometimes a <br />considerable distance from water. Tiger salamanders occur in the North Fork Gunnison River watershed <br />(Hammerson, 1999), and populations have been identified on NFS lands near the LBA tract area (Wang, <br />2002). Tiger salamanders may breed in Raven Gulch, and non-breeding tiger salamanders could also <br />occur on most NFS and BLM lands in the LBA tract. <br />Northern Leopard Frog. Northern leopard frogs occur in the North Fork Gunnison River downstream <br />from the LBA tract area (Hammerson, 1999), and the Forest Service has found them in the Paonia <br />Ranger District typically in ponds and still water areas.but sometimes in intermittent streams (Wang, <br />2003). Northern leopard frogs may breed in the lease area in Raven Gulch. <br />Wolverine. Wolverines formerly ranged throughout Colorado but apparently are extirpated from the <br />state. The Colorado Division of W ildlife may reintroduce wolverines in the future. Potential habitat exists <br />for wolverines throughout the LBA tract area. r <br />Spotted Bat. Spotted bats occur in widely scattered locations in the western United States (Barbour and <br />Davis, 1969), from low desert to montane coniferous forests usually below 8,000 feet elevation (Watkins, <br />1977). Spotted bats are apparently rare in Colorado (Fitzgerald et al., 1994; Armstrong et al., 1984), with <br />only a few records from canyon country of Montezuma and Moffat counties. Canyons and cliffs provide <br />important roosting sites, especially near riparian areas (Easterla, 1973; Leonard and Fenton, 1983). <br />Spotted bats are not known to occur in the LBA tract area, but the species' distribution is not well <br />documented. Sandstone cliffs along the West Flatiron rim contain crevices that could provide suitable <br />roosting habitat for spotted bats, and potential foraging areas exist throughout the LBA tract. <br />Enwrontnti n"3i ,assessment <br />West Flatiron LBA Tract <br />C3u~~nr.;cfr~ Gnunty, Colorado <br />