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The possibility of site utilization by the peregrine falcon, whooping crane, ferruginous <br />hawk, and black tern is extremely remote due to regional and local habitat restrictions <br />and/or species di~s tribution. However, attention will be given these species during the <br />course of conducting monitoring for big game, upland game birds, and bald eagles. <br />Reconnaissance of impoundments, potential roost sites, hunting areas, and resting areas <br />will be made throughout the year by reclamation and environmental personnel. <br />Monitoring for the northern goshawk will be conducted in conjunction with the raptor <br />monitoring plan (see below). <br />Monitoring for loggerhead shrikes will be conducted by biologists during the course of <br />ground truthing raptor nests and grouse leks/searches. Suitable habitat will be traversed <br />pn foot and by vehicle by qualified biologists to search for [his species during the <br />spring surveys. <br />In addition, records will be kept of any roadkilLs along mine access and haul roads to <br />determine if impacts ere occurring on sharp-tail grouse, cranes, or other uildl ife <br />• species. <br />Raptor Nesting Sites. Baseline wildlife surveys indicated the Coopers hawk, great horned <br />owl, and red tailed hawk breed in the locality of the Yoast Mine. Nesting sites consisted <br />almost exclusively of aspen trees along steep canyons. In addition, the northern goshawk <br />was detected during baseline studies. <br />During baseline studies it was found that the most reliable method of detecting nests was <br />to locate them while conducting aerial big game surveys in winter. The nests could easily <br />be identified at this time due to ground conditions. The trees had no leaves and snow on <br />the ground contrasted well with the dense nest materials in the trees. Once mapped, the <br />nests could easily 6e found on the ground during the breeding season. <br /> Searches for raptor nests in areas that will be disturbed by mining will be continued on an <br /> annual basis chile conducting the ui nter aerial big game survey. Neu and previously i <br /> identified nests will be checked for activity annually in the spring. Particular <br /> attention will be given to ocular reconnaissance for nort hern goshawks. In addition, <br />• raptors frequenting the minesite will be observed during the nesting season to locate nest <br /> sites not detected during the aerial survey. Behavior end flight lines will be evaluated <br /> with follow-up nest searches in areas frequented by breeding raptors. ii <br /> 15 Revised 06/18/95 <br />