2008-03-12_REPORT - C1982057 (2)

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• from 2002 through 2004, and although no grouse were seen on the lek in 2005, a few individuals • were heard that year, calling from mountain brush in proximity to the lek. Only two males were observed in 2006. In 2007, biologists flushed six grouse from the site, however, because of the Table 1. Peak counts of sharp-tailed grouse at leks on the Seneca II-W permit area from 1998 through 2007. SENECA II-W SENECA II-W 2 FOTENTI~I,L LEK Year Mal. :Fem. Total Mal. : Fem. ~ Total Mal. :Fem. Total 1998 ? ? 4 1999 ? ~ ? 3 2000 ? ~ ? 5 2001 ............................ ? ......................... ? .........................s.. 4 ............................. .........................; ............................ ................................. ..........................; ............................>. ................................. 2002 7 1 8 4+ 0 4+ 2003 8 1 9 0 0 0 2004 5 0 5 3 1 4 0 0 0 2005 7+ 1+ 9 4+ ~ 0+ ~ 7 0 0 0 2006 5+ 0+ € 8 7+ l+ ~ 11 2 0 2 2007 2* 0 2 6+ 0+ 11 2+ 0+ 6 Mal =Males Fem =Females ? =Unknown number of grouse for that category. + =Minimum count, other birds of same sex may have been present. * =Represents number of males observed on lek, seven additional displaying males were observed at various locations in vicinity of lek. poor visibility caused by heavy fog, only two of the birds were positively identified as males. J&S will continue to monitor the site annually to more accurately determine its status as a lek. Since 1998, the total number of grouse observed during lek counts within the Seneca II- W area has ranged from 3 (in 1999) to 21 (in 2006) individuals, and has exhibited an overall • increasing trend. As most grouse observed at leks are males, the peak male counts and overall 2007 Seneca II-W Mine Wildlife Monitoring Page 10