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• field to identify breeding/nesting areas. As a result of inventories, mitigation or modification <br />of drilling activity can be developed prior to disturbance. <br />In 2001, raptor transects were re-flagged and inventories performed from April to June. <br />The great horned owl nest (utilized by the sharp shinned hawk in 1998 and 1999) located <br />near 4A-6V was not occupied and was destroyed by some raptors in 2000. A pair of <br />kestrels utilized a juniper tree near the access road for a nesting site, which was utilized by <br />blue birds in 2000. The nest was located in a hole of the tree, approximately four feet from <br />the ground. The number of babies in the nest is unknown. Red tailed hawks were noted <br />several times on the mine site. Two golden eagles have been observed on a perch just <br />west of the turn off to the WRN project on road RBC 24. These two have been observed in <br />• this area every year but no eggs or young have been detected since monitoring began in <br />1991. <br />6.2.4 Other Observations <br />Wild horses are common to the WRN leases. BLM removal in 2000 of excess numbers of <br />horses in the Piceance Creek area reduced the number normally observed. Three horses were <br />observed early in the spring north of the plant. Elk are visitors to the mine area and are <br />commonly observed along Piceance Creek from July -September at sunrise. Deer are <br />common to the site and Piceance Creek, except during May -September when they are at <br />higher elevations. <br />92 <br />• <br />