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GOLDEN EAGLE NESTING • Nine golden eagle nests have been found at four different sites within one mile of the Seneca II Mine permit boundary (Exhibit 1). Four of those nests were in a single golden eagle territory (Section 3, TSN, R87W). A second golden eagle territory (Section 27, T6N, R87W) had three cliff nests. At leas[ one nest has been identified in a third territory (Section 13, TSN, R87W). In April 2000, a stick nest was found on a cliff in NW t/< NW t/< Section 7, TSN, R86W. It is not known if that nest is in the same territory as the Sec[ion 13 nest. Three pairs of eagles were actively nesting in April 2000. The Section 27 pair nested approximately 0.5 miles north of the mine facilities. Those birds were seen brooding one small chick on 25 April. The Section 3 pair was sitting tight on a nest on 27 April, but no young were visible. On 25 April, eagles were seen either incubating eggs or brooding young at the Section 13 nest. No eagles were seen in the vicinity of the Section 7 nest i^ April Although the three known nesting territories (Sections 27, 3, and 13) are relatively close together, they were all occupied every year since 1996. That year, both the Section 3 and 13 pairs fledged one chick each. All three pairs were observed incubating in April 1997. • One pair had young, and a second pair was still incubating when they were checked in April 1998. The Section 27 pair was brooding one young in April 1999. Although fledging success was not determined in most years (1997-2000), the continued occupation of the territories indicates that eagles have not been affected by activities at the Seneca II Mine. SANDHILL CRANE ACTIVITY No sandhill cranes were seen or heard on or near the Seneca II permit area in April 2000. LITERATURE CITED Cannon, R.W. and F.L. Knopf. 1981. Lek numbers as a trend index to prairie grouse populations. Journal of Wildlife Management 45:776-778. • 2000 Seneca II Mine WilJlife Monitoring Page 10