|
State Reg.
<br />,::
<br />-~" ,cat _. ~ ,,.~~~_. ~~
<br />Of .the seven most, important breeding.. passerine species (Green-tailed
<br />towhee, House wren, Tree swallow, American robin, Brewer's sparrow,
<br />Brown-headed .cowbird, and Violet-green swallow), four had an affinity
<br />for, or were common in, the aspen subtype, one (Violet-green swallow)
<br />had an affinity for riparian habitat, and only .two (Green-tailed towhee
<br />and Brewer's sparrow) had an affinity for the shrub types.
<br />3. Upland Sagebrush Areas-= The~uplarid sagebi•vsh comrrmuriit`y occurs
<br />.mainly on well-drained, soils in the southwestern section of the study
<br />s... ..... ., -, ... ~, ,
<br />_ area.,_.The:type is .characterized~by relativeFy homogeneous stands of
<br />.; ~,--.. ,.. basin. bigsagebrush. Snowberry~dnd,Douglas rabbitbrush may be locally
<br />.common rnsome areas of this type. Plants most common to the type are
<br />~~basin. big sagebrush; Letterman needlegross,'arrowleaf balsamroot, and
<br />_.... ~ ,
<br />.. ... ,., ,_ ,r.-~ .-, -, ,,
<br />rriulesear.wyetfiiq.~ ~ ~. ~' ~~
<br />4. Disturbed and ,Barren Areas -These areas occupied about 23 percent
<br />of the vegetation study area. Because of the lack of cover, no data was
<br />available.
<br />~,{,: ~ ..r.:r ....:. - _ ._ _ ~~ ,
<br />A..more detailed descnptron of these vegetative communities is found in
<br />_ ,.
<br />Tab ~10 and Exhibit i0-i.
<br />r..;. _.
<br />-,r .. .. .. _,, ,
<br />Wildlife studies are detorled in Tab I~I. Following is a summary of wild-
<br />Irfe.uses of the permit area.
<br />,1.. Passerine Species. As detailed in Tab 11, the greatest number of
<br />avignispecies occur in the aspen subtype. Th.is~species diversity is a
<br />,~ .~. ,..
<br />_ function. of _structural heteorogeneity.~~ The lowest species diversity was
<br />. found in the shrub types.
<br />..1,qn~ ;~.,~
<br />:`~y~r ti: ;G
<br />2. Raptors. Three Golden eagle nests are locafed in cliffs on the periph-
<br />ery of the mining area. Overwintering Golden eagles generally perch.on
<br />these cliffs and have been observed hunting primarily the Gambel oak
<br />.shrub type. Prairie falcons are also nesting in cliffs around the permit
<br />area and hunt the open areas. All other raptors observed on or near the
<br />permit area nest primarily in aspen and other trees.
<br />5-27-81
<br />
|