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Sage Creek Mine February 2009 <br />• in SW NE Section 28 T6N:R87W and near one of the haul roads associated with the Yoast Mine in <br />NE SW Section 8 T5N:R87W. <br />4.3 Raptors <br />ICF Jones & Stokes biologists have identified 20 nests (Table 2 and mapped in Exhibit 1) of five <br />confirmed raptor species (including the turkey vulture — Cathartes aura) within or near the 0.5 -mile <br />perimeter surrounding the Sage Creek Mine study area. Thirteen of those are golden eagle nests <br />occurring in distinct territories comprised of one to six nests. Many of the known golden eagle <br />nests were previously identified during monitoring for the Seneca II Mine and have information on <br />activity dating back to 1996. However, the golden eagle nests in NE NW Section 27, NW SE <br />Section 3, and NW NE Section 13 were all monitored as territories for the Seneca II Mine, and <br />although each nest territory was checked annually, the activity, condition, and productivity at the <br />specific nests was not recorded during that period. Therefore, data presented from 2004 to 2007' <br />represents the respective territories only and is not specific to individual nests. Searches for <br />additional raptor nests within 0.5 mile of the proposed surface disturbing activities associated with <br />the Sage Creek Mine were initiated in 2008 and seven additional nests were confirmed in the area. <br />is Existing nests included: <br />13 golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) nests, <br />1 American kestrel (Falco spaverius) nest, <br />2 red - tailed hawk ( Buteo jamaicensis) nests, <br />1 Swainson's hawk ( Buteo swansoni) nest, <br />1 turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) nest, and <br />2 unknown Buteo (unoccupied) nests. <br />Nine pairs of raptors were active within the Sage Creek Mine survey area during spring /summer <br />2008, and seven of those pairs fledged at least 15 young during that time. Raptors that <br />successfully nested included four pairs of golden eagle, one pair of American kestrels, one pair of <br />red - tailed hawks, and one pair of turkey vultures (Table 2). One additional pair of red - tailed hawks <br />was observed defending a nest in late June 2008, but no young were present at the nest. It is <br />possible that the young may have fledged by the time of the survey, as the nest remained in <br />r <br />�J <br />18 <br />