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or walking through the area. Frequent stops were made at vantage points to scan and listen for <br />birds in appropriate habitats. <br />Golden Eagle Nest Monitoring <br />Golden eagle nest monitoring was conducted within or near the permit area on April 30, 2008 to <br />check for breeding activity at all known nest sites. Only one golden eagle nesting territory, <br />consisting of five nests (GOEA 9a-9e) in SE SW Section 16 and NE NW Section 21 T5N:R88W, <br />is located on or within 0.5 mile of the Seneca II-West Mine permit area. Biologists drove to the <br />closest vantage point to view the nests through a spotting scope, but conducted observations from <br />a sufficient distance (as per guidelines recommended by Grier and Fyfe 1987) to prevent nest <br />abandonment and/or injury to eggs or young. Nests were observed until their status (active or <br />inactive) could 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 mountain brush habitats (Hoffman <br />2001). It has been recognized that post-mining reclamation provides suitable habitat for lek sites, <br />nesting, and brood rearing. Mine reclaimed lands account for less than 4% of the occupied range <br />of sharp-tailed grouse in northwestern Colorado, yet supported 16% of the active leks observed <br />in 2007 (Yost 2007). <br />Reclamation at Seneca II-West Mine supports one lek (Seneca II-West 2) and one location where <br />• displaying grouse have been documented in the past. As most grouse observed at leks are males, <br />2008 Seneca II-West Mine Wildlife Monitoring Page 3