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Section 7~g,2p (c) Continued. <br />• <br /> vicinity. All raptor nests that were observed were checked, to <br /> the extent possible, for nesting ac*ivity and their locations <br />plotted on maps. <br />Game Birds. Two aerial surveys were flown for the purpose of <br />locating sagegrouse strutting grounds and. sharp-tailed grouse <br />dancing grounds within one mile of the mine plan area. The flights <br />were initiated at sunrise on April 13th and 24th, 1979 to correspond <br />with the peak of breeding activity. Transects flown were the same <br />as those utilized for the aerial big game surveys (see Twentymile <br />Park April Elk Observations (Map 20)). Other wildlife observations <br />were also recorded during these flights. In addition, the CDOW <br />(Hicks (1979)) was consulted to obtain information on any known <br />strutting or dancing grounds in the vicinity of the mine plan area. <br />Game birds observed during other aerial flights and field activities <br />were recorded, to the extent possible, as to species, location, and <br />• habitat. <br />Waterfowl. Waterfowl observed during all field activities were <br />recorded as to species location, habitat, and age class when <br />possible. Nesting activities observed during the big game censuses <br />were also recorded. Specific nest searches were not conducted but <br />nests were observed in conjunction with other field activities <br />between May 29, 1979 and June 15, 1979. All impoundments which <br />appeared to offer suitable nesting habitat were searched during <br />this period. <br />Songbirds. Songbirds and songbird-like birds were surveyed using <br />both qualitative and quantitative methods. Qualitative observa- <br />tions were recorded during all field activities; special effort was <br />made to qualitatively survey habitat edges and small patches of <br />unique habitat (e. g., ponds) to provide a more comprehensive in- <br />ventory of species in the mine plan and adjacent areas. Quanti- <br />• tative surveys were conducted in four habitat types (aspen, sage- <br />779-141 <br />brush, mountain shrub, and wet meadow) using a specific-width strip <br />