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<br />Colorado River floodplain. Numerous deer tracks and game trails were observed crossing <br />through riparian habitat along the edge of the river indicating that these areas may provide <br />important travel condors for local deer. The floodplain provides important mule deer winter <br />habitat and a good source of food and cover for Local year-round resident deer. The floodplain <br />also provides winter range for elk. <br />Raptors <br />A database search of the CDOW Wildlife Resource Information Service indicates that 13 species <br />of raptors (birds of prey) potentially occur in the vicinity of the Mamm Creek Project Site. These <br />include bald eagle, golden eagle (Aquila chryseatos), Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsoni), <br />red-tailed hawk (B.jamaicensis), rough-legged hawk (B.lagopus), northern harrier (Circus <br />cyaneus), merlin (Falw columarius), American kestrel (F.sparverius), Cooper's hawk (Accipiter <br />cooperii), Sharp-shinned hawk (A.striatus), Northern goshawk (A.gentilis), great-homed owl <br />(Bubo virginianus) and long-eared owl (Asio otus). Many of these species are infrequent spring <br />and fall migrants that occasionally pass through the Colorado River Valley. American Kestrel and <br />Cooper's hawk were the only raptor species observed during the site reconnaissance visit. A <br />search of the project site conducted in September, 1999 did not locate any potential or recently <br />active raptor nests on the project site, however, dense riparian aeeas and tall mature cottonwood <br />trees provides potential nesting habitat for cooper's hawks, sharp-skinned hawk and red-tailed <br />hawks. <br />The Colorado Department of Wildlife has provided data on potential nesting sites for avian <br />species including eagles. These potential nesting sites have been shown on Exhibits C-l and C-2 <br />and labeled eagle nests. <br />Game Birds and Waterfowl <br />Upland game birds potentially occurring on the Mamm Creek Project Site include ring-necked <br />pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), mourning dove (Zenida macroura) and turkey (Meleagris <br />gallopavo). Mourning dove and turkey were observed on the project site during a site <br />reconnaissance visit. Both these species prefers mountain brush and riparian habitats with a high <br />degree of vegetation diversity and available water. Brood production of doves is correlated with <br />spring precipitation and dependent on the availability of seeds and accessible water. No other <br />upland game species is expected to occur on the project site. <br />The Colorado River and its associated floodplain and wetland areas provide habitat for breeding <br />and migrant waterfowl. Waterfowl likely to occur on the Mamm Creek Project Site includes; <br />Canada geese (Branca canadensis), common and red breasted mergansers (Mergus merganser, M. <br />senator), gadwall (Arras strepera), American widgeon (A.americana), mallard (A.platyranchos), <br />green-winged teal (A.crecca), blue-winged teal (A.diswrs), cinnamon teal {A.cyanoptera), <br />northern shoveler (a.clypeata), pintail (A.acuta), redhead (Aytha americans), canvasback <br />(A.valinsineria), lesser stoup (A.marila), Common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), Barrow's <br />goldeneye (B.islandica), buftlehead (B.albeola) and ruddy ducks (Oxyura dominica). <br />