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' Bluestone and section 16 Wildlife Issues Report Western Aggregates, Inc. <br />' exception of RFP Reservoir. While the cobble and large grave] substrate associated with <br />this reservoir does not provide the small-grained texture this species is normally associated <br />with, the reservoir could be used as a rare stopover area. Nevertheless, mining would not <br />adversely affect the reservoir, nor would it adversely affect use by the rare snowy plover that <br />' might stopover during migration. <br />' Lon -billed Curlew <br />Although long-billed curlews were historically considered abundant throughout eastern <br />' Colorado (Bergtold 1928), the last breeding record from near the project area was in 1909 <br />(Henderson 1909, Betts 1913, Alexander 1937). In Douglas County, nesting was recorded <br />' as late as 1931 (Niedrach and Rockwell 1939) and as late as 1956 in Arapahoe County <br />(Bailey and Niedrach 1965). Curlews are now considered rare spring and fall migrants in <br />the vicinity of the project area (Chase et al. 1982, Andrews and Righter 1992). They may <br />' occur along shorelines and in meadows and fields. While it is possible that a rare migrating <br />curlew could stopover on either project area, it is unlikely. No curlews have been previously <br />detected within the RFP buffer (USDOE 1994a, b) zone and this area cannot be considered <br />' important habitat. <br />' Black Tern <br />' Black terns are common to abundant spring migrants and uncommon to fairly common fall <br />migrants on Colorado's eastern plains (Chase et al. 1982, Andrews and Righter 1992). They <br />are locallly considered uncommon migrants (Figgs 1986). They nest in large cattail marshes <br />' adjacent to open water. Suitable breeding habitat is absent on both proposed mining areas. <br />Although it is possible that migrants might briefly use RFP Reservoir, mining would not <br />adversely affect the reservoir, or the infrequent tern use that might be associated with it. <br />' Black terns have not been previously detected within the RFP buffer (USDOE 1994a, b) <br />zone and this area cannot be considered important habitat. <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />1 <br />Loggerhead Shrike <br />Loggerhead shrikes are considered rare to uncommon breeders in the vicinity of the project <br />area (Ch,3se et al. 1982, Andrews and Righter 1992). Bailey and Niedrach (1965) considered <br />this species common on the plains and low valleys of Colorado, occasionally ranging into the <br />mountains to 9,000 feet. These birds, which have the peculiar habit of impaling their prey <br />on thormi bushes or barbed-wire, prefer open country, thinly wooded, or scrubby land with <br />clearings, meadows, and pastures. Habitats on the 2 proposed mining areas are generally <br />suitable shrike habitat. The best shrike habitat occurs in the draws of Rock Creek, below <br />the proposed Bluestone mining area, that support woody vegetation. Loggerhead shrikes <br />Western Ecosystems, inc. ]$ December, 1994 <br />