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AMERICAN KESTREL NEST BOX WILDLIFE MITIGATION IN NORTHWEST COLORADO Timothy M. Chervick, Western Fuels-Utah, Inc., Deserado Mine, Rangely, CO. 81648 ABSTRACT: This study was conducted to determine the effects oY relocating nesting habitat for an adult pair of American kestrels (Falco sparverius) at a northwest Colorado coal mine during 1985-1987. Tha habitat was lost when the falcon pair utilized mobile railroad machinery for a neat Bite. A kestrel nest box was used to successfully fledge 8 falcon young over a three year period. Despite one year when sterile eggs were produced, 5 young were fledged in 1987 without interference by man. INTRODUCTION Almost no published information is available concerning the impacts of mining on birds of prey (Bednarz, 1987). Short-term impact data on actively Heating raptors has been collected, but long-term data ie lacking (Stahlecker and Alldredge, 1976). This study was conducted to document Deserado Mine efforts to replace nesting habitat that was lost when a nesting falcon pair utilized railroad machinery as an active aerie. Kestrel nest boxes have been installed and utilized at one coal mine in Sheridan, Wyoming according to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife official (Lockhart, 1986). STUDY AREA The Deserado Mine which ie 19 miles northeast of Rangely, Colorado, Rio Blanco County, is located in the northwest plateau area of Colorado. Terrain ranges Prom rolling, northern desert shrub habitat with intermittent juniper stands along ridge tops and mesas. The mine site elevation ie 5600 feet. Dinosaur National Monument borders the mine area to the north. METHODS An artificial nest box was constructed from 6.4 mm plywood with the following dimensions, 330.2 mm (H) x 304.8 mm (L) x 304.8 mm (W) (see photos #2, 3, and 4). A Pitman Bucket Truck was used to install and access the kestrel nest box structure during the study. A 4,000 gram Mettler electronic balance was used to weigh the young. RESULTS In the Spring of 1985, a neat of American kestrels (Falco sparverius) containing three downy young approximately two weeks old were discovered in a railroad Petibone Boom Truck at the Deserado Mine site. The boom truck had been moved several miles from the original locstion during routine work at the railroad before the falcons were found inside a hollow area below the crane unit. Workers found the nest by active vocalization of young since the birds had not been fed for at least 24 - 48 hours. The young falcons were kept overnight and fed a diet of chicken meat until full crops were evident (see Photo #1).