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conducted in mature aspen stands prior to the trees becoming fully leafed out. By conducting <br />surveys in early to mid-May both early and late nesting birds would be located. Surveys in <br />spruce fir stands were conducted later in the season. This is done because nests are hard to locate <br />in conifer stands and by waiting till mid-June eggs have hatched, young are on the nest and <br />adults are more defensive and will call out if the observer comes near the nest site. In addition to <br />physically checking all stands of trees, recordings for species known to use these habitat types <br />were played in an effort to elicit a response from any raptors that might have a nest in the area. <br />Any sandstone cliffs or outcrops were checked for evidence of raptor nesting. Opportunistic <br />surveys of cliffs were done throughout the period that field work was conducted. <br />To compile data on habitat and neotropical breeding bird activity, presence absence surveys were <br />conducted in the areas where GVB's and access roads will be located. Observation data were <br />collected in all habitat types where disturbance will occur. In addition to the breeding bird <br />transects, opportunistic observations of birds were recorded while conducting nesting raptor <br />surveys. <br />In late June and early July surveys for listed species of plants were conducted in the project area. <br />At this time nearly all species are in flower making it easier to locate and identify listed species. <br />Habitat for most listed species is lacking throughout the project area. Any habitat with <br />conditions that could potentially support any of listed species was checked. <br />Opportunistic observations of species not observed during specific surveys, while going in and <br />out of the project area and while traveling in the project area were recorded by species, habitat <br />type and condition. <br />VEGETATION <br />Vegetation/habitat found in the project area was described in detail in the 2007 baseline report. <br />Vegetation was mapped and is shown on Figure 1 in that report. The vegetation types addessed <br />in that report included Mountain shrub, Aspen, Spruce/fir, Douglas fir and water influence zones. <br />Water influence zones included riparian, wetland and ponds. <br />When addressing vegetation and habitat it is of interest to note how much of the mature aspen in <br />the area is dying out. When observing the overall area it is estimated that more than 50 percent <br />of the mature aspen has died or is dying. Of additional importance is the lack of regeneration in <br />many of these stands. As this habitat continues to decline there will undoubtedly be a chance in <br />use of these areas by wildlife, especially birds. <br />THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES <br />No species listed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) were observed during the E-Seam 1 <br />& 2 Methane Drainage Wells wildlife surveys. As presented in the 2007 E-Seam Baseline <br />Report, habitat is generally lacking for most of these species. Where habitat does exist, it is <br />marginal and the occurence of any of these species would be doubtful. Canada lynx (threatened) <br />is the only T&E species that could potentially occur in this area. The yellow-billed cuckoo, <br />2