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• 2006. The increased number of males observed in 2007 (28) approximates those observed in <br />past years. <br />The Seneca 4 lek site was discovered during surveys in 2004. From its discovery, peak <br />male attendance at this site has fluctuated from 6 to 13 individuals. The highest male attendance <br />was documented in 2007. <br />Mine personnel and J&S biologists reported observing displaying grouse at a new <br />location in NE NW Section 12, TSN, R87W in spring 2007. On 22 April, biologists documented <br />eight males displaying and fighting within reclamation, slightly northeast of a regraded mine <br />road. No females were observed. The site is located almost equidistant (0.25 mile) between the <br />Seneca 2 lek and the Seneca 4 leks and will be included in future annual surveys to more <br />accurately determine its status as a lek. <br />The overall increase of males within the Seneca II area is generally consistent with <br />increased counts at other sharp-tailed grouse leks throughout northwestern Colorado (Yost 2007, <br />Hoffman 2001). Although increased lek attendance by males is an indication of increasing <br />• populations, the number of leks in an area is a better measure of a population's status (Cannon <br />and Knopf 1981). Therefore, the establishment of four verified leks at Seneca II since 1995, in <br />combination with an increase in observed males suggests that the sharp-tailed grouse population <br />breeding within the Seneca II area is healthy. <br />Despite multiple observations in previous years, blue grouse (Dendragapus obscurus) <br />were documented only once during the site visit in 2007. On the morning of 22 April, one male <br />was seen displaying along a berm bordering mountain brush habitat and reclamation in SE SE <br />Section 36, T6N, R87W. A single male has consistently occupied that site since at least 2005. <br />GOLDEN EAGLE NESTING <br />Eleven potential golden eagle nests have been documented at four different sites within <br />one mile of the Seneca II Mine permit boundary (Exhibit 1). Six of those nests were in a single <br />golden eagle territory (Sections 3 and I0, TSN, R87W). A second territory (Section 27, T6N, <br />R87W) encompassed three cliff nests. At least one nest has been identified in a third territory <br />(Section 13, TSN, R87W). In April 2000, a stick nest was found on a cliff face in NW NW <br />Section 7, TSN, R86W. It is not known whether it belongs within the Section 13 territory. No <br />2007 Seneca II Mine Wildlife Monitoring Page 11 <br />