Laserfiche WebLink
• complete count from a distance, the biologist walked out to the lek and flushed the birds for a <br />final count. Searches for new leks on and near the permit area were also conducted from one- <br />half hour before to one hour after sunrise on April 29 and May 2, 2008. In addition to <br />specifically visiting sites where non-displaying grouse were observed in past years, biologists <br />looked and listened for displaying grouse while slowly driving or walking through the area. <br />Frequent stops were made at vantage points to scan and listen for birds in appropriate habitats. <br />Golden Eagle Nest Monitoring <br />Golden eagle nest monitoring was conducted within or near the permit area on April 29 and May <br />2, 2008 to check for breeding activity at all known nest sites. Only one golden eagle nesting <br />territory, consisting of two nests (GOEA 8a and 8b) in SW SE Section 7 T5N:R87W, is located <br />on or within 0.5 mile of the Yoast Mine permit area. Biologists walked to the closest vantage <br />point to view the nests through a spotting scope, but conducted observations from a sufficient <br />distance (as per guidelines recommended by Grier and Fyfe 1987) to prevent nest abandonment <br />and/or injury to eggs or young. Nests were observed until their status (active or inactive) could <br />• be determined. <br />Sandhill Cranes <br />Biologists watched and listened for sandhill crane activity while traveling through the area and <br />conducting surveys for other species. All sightings recorded included notes on location, habitat, <br />and behavior. If cranes were observed or heard, biologists targeted potential nesting habitats <br />(i.e., marshes, reservoirs, and moist drainages) to try and determine whether pairs were nesting in <br />the vicinity. Documented nesting sites from the previous years' monitoring were also checked <br />for activity. <br />RESULTS <br />Upland Game Birds <br />The decline of Columbian sharp-tailed grouse in Colorado has been attributed to the loss and <br />degradation of native grassland, sagebrush-grassland, and shrubland habitats (Hoffman 2001). It <br />. has been recognized that CRP lands provide suitable habitat for lek sites, nesting, and brood <br />rearing. CRP lands account for less than 4% of the occupied range of sharp-tailed grouse in <br />2008 Yoast Mine Wildlife Monitoring Page 3