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Sage Creek Mine February 2009 <br />• SW Section 28 T6N:R87W in 2000, the Trousdale lek was discovered in NE SE Section 32 <br />T6N:R87W by CDOW personnel in 2002, and the Fifer lek was discovered in SE NE Section 5 <br />T5N:R87W in 2005. ICF Jones & Stokes biologists also found an alternate site (i.e., satellite lek <br />location) for the Trousdale lek in SW NE Section 32 T6N:R87W in 2004. <br />ICF Jones & Stokes biologists most recently checked the 11 known lek locations (including the <br />Trousdale satellite lek) between one -half hour before and 1 hour after sunrise on April 28 and 29 <br />and May 1 and 2, 2008. Biologists drove or walked to vantage points near each lek and counted <br />all birds present. During the few occasions that vegetation or topography prevented a complete <br />count from a distance, the biologist walked out to the lek and flushed the birds for a final count. <br />3.3.2 Grouse Lek Searches <br />Searches for new sharp - tailed grouse and greater sage - grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) leks <br />on and within 1.0 mile of the study area were also conducted from one -half hour before to 1 hour <br />after sunrise on April 28 and 29 and May 1 and 2, 2008. Biologists searched for displaying grouse <br />by slowly driving through the area, making frequent stops at vantage points to scan and listen for <br />• strutting birds. Vantage points were spaced at less than 1.0 -mile intervals to ensure full coverage <br />of the area. Biologists concentrated their efforts in likely lek habitat (level to rolling grasslands and <br />sagebrush - grasslands), and specifically visited sites where historical grouse observations <br />(including non - displaying grouse) were documented in past years. Biologists also watched for <br />grouse, grouse sign (droppings, tracks, feathers), and other upland game bird species while <br />traveling through appropriate habitats during other surveys. <br />3.4 Raptor Nests <br />3.4.1 Golden Eagle Nest Monitoring <br />ICF Jones & Stokes has conducted annual surveys from 1994 through 2008 to monitor activity at <br />the known golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) nests on or near the Seneca II and Yoast Mines. Four <br />golden eagle nesting territories monitored for the Seneca II Mine are on or within 0.5 mile of the <br />Sage Creek Mine study area (NE NW Section 27 T6N:R87W, SE Section 3 and NE NE Section 10 <br />T5N:R87W, NW NW Section 7 T5N:R86W, and NW NE Section 13 T5N:R87W). None of the <br />known golden eagle nests monitored for the Yoast Mine exist on or within 0.5 mile of the Sage <br />Creek Mine study area. In 2008, the activity, status (condition of the nest), and productivity <br />• (number of young produced) at each of the golden eagle nests was documented during surveys on <br />