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• The second lek in reclamation, Seneca J12, was active for the second consecutive year <br />in 1999. A flush count of 21 birds was made on 29 April. A maximum of count of 14 grouse <br />was made at Seneca M2 in April 1998. <br />In addition to the two lek sites, a few male sharp-tailed grouse were also found <br />displaying at a third location in reclamation in both 1998 and 1999. That site is between the <br />Seneca ~fl and 112 leks in NEB/a NEB/< Section 11, TSN, R87W. Although no females have <br />ever been documented at the site, they may start attending the site in the future if the local <br />population continues to increase. <br />In light of population declines due to habitat loss throughout much of the range of the <br />Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, it is a positive sign that birds have established two leks on <br />reclaimed ground at the Seneca II Mine since 1995. The formation of new leks indicates that <br />the local grouse population is increasing. <br />For the second year in row, a male blue grouse (Dendragapus obscurus) was seen <br />displaying on a berm along a mine road in NEB/. NEB/a, Section 2, TSN, R87W in April 1999. <br />Although the blue grouse was displaying on a road through reclamation, he was proximate to <br />• mountain brush habitat. <br />GOLDEN EAGLE NESTING <br />Eight golden eagle nests have been found at three different sites within one mile of the <br />Seneca II Mine permit boundary (Exhibit 1). Four of those nests were close to each other, in <br />a single golden eagle territory (Section 3, TSN, R87W}. A second golden eagle territory <br />(Section 27, T6N, R87W) had three cliff nests, and a third territory (Section 13, TSN, R87W) <br />had just one nest. <br />Adult eagles were observed in all three territories in April, but only one of the pairs <br />was still actively nesting at that time. The pair that nests in Section 27, approximately 0.5 <br />miles north of the mine facilities, was tending at least one small chick on 27 and 29 April. <br />The pair that nests in Section 13 was seen flying and perching on their nest on 29 April, but <br />their behavior indicated [hat they had failed to produce any young in 1999. No young were <br />seen in the nest when the adults perched there. The Section 3 pair also failed to produce <br />• young in 1999. <br />IY99 Seneca 11 Mine WilJlifc Muniluring Page 8 <br />