PERMFILE107892

• Permit No: C1980007A
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 12/11/2001
• Section_Exhibit Name: Exhibit 38 Lists of Endangered & Threatened Species
• Media Type: D
• Archive: Yes

Mountain Coal Company
• West Elk Mine
Exhibit 38
Rare and Endangered Species
Of the 75 species included on Dr. Grain's list, the following have been observed on the
West Elk Mine study area:
1. Prairie falcon (Falco mexiconus)
2. Gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
3. Blue-gray gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)
4. Evening grosbeak (Hesperiphona vespertina)
5. Pygmy owl (Glaucidium gnoma)
6. Orange-crowned warbler (Verniivora celata)
7. Pine grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator)
8. Willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii)
Gray catbirds have been observed repeatedly in Sylvester Gulch. Although a nest was
not located, the male was vocalizing and apparently defending a territory near a brush
site in the Riparian habitat of Sylvester Gulch. It has been noted that catbirds are
common in eastern Colorado and less common in western Colorado. They are
considered uncommon near Gunnison.
Several pairs of blue-gray gnatcatchers were observed in the juniper habitat north of the
North Fork of the Gunnison River, near the Bear Mine. These birds are on the status
• list previously mentioned. No nests were discovered, but behavior patterns indicative of
nesting were observed.
•
The gnatcatchers were also recorded at densities greater than one bird per hectare in the
Wet Mixed Shrub transect. The blue-gray gnatcatcher was one of four species on the
study area appearing on the list of ubiquitous species, and the list of most abundant
species.
Evening grosbeaks are also included on the critical status list. A single female grosbeak
was observed in Sylvester Gulch. It has been stated that grosbeaks may nest irregularly
and their abundance one season and scarcity in another may be due to the food
availability. Their presence during summer does not automatically indicate breeding.
The pygmy owl was observed during the raptor investigations. Since they are a secretive
species only one possible nest was located in an aspen tree. This species was observed
along drainages of the southern section of the study area of Lick Creek and Poison Gulch
in Douglas fir types of vegetation. For details, see Rees, 1977.
Orange-crowned warblers,- pine grosbeaks, and willow flycatchers appeared in small
numbers during the bird studies. Since they are included on Grain's list (1975), they are
mentioned here. None of the birds on Grain's appendix list should be considered
threatened or endangered until further information is available.
Exhibit 38-2