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Sage Creek Mine February 2009 <br />is Sandhill cranes have been documented regularly within the Sage Creek Mine survey area between <br />2004 and 2008. Additionally, nesting cranes were observed at the small reservoir in SW SE <br />Section 12 T5N:R87W from 2004 to 2006, and recorded in close proximity to the reservoir in every <br />year after. The majority of the remaining crane observations have been associated with the <br />Nofster Zeigler Reservoir in NE ' / 4 Section 9 T5N:R87W and the CRP grasslands in the northwest <br />portion of the survey area. <br />4.5 Other Animals <br />Sixty -two species of birds, one amphibian species, and 11 mammal species were observed during <br />the April and June baseline survey periods for the Sage Creek Mine (Appendix 1). Not <br />surprisingly, bird diversity was highest in Gambel oak (22 species) and grassland (21 species) <br />habitats, as those were the most prevalent habitats within the survey area. The most abundant <br />bird species was the cliff swallow (Hirundo pyrrhonota), which tended to occur in large flocks and <br />nesting colonies. Only one amphibian species (the boreal chorus frog) was recorded within the <br />survey area, but targeted surveys for amphibians would undoubtedly result in a higher diversity of <br />these species. Ground squirrels (Spermophilus sp.) were the most common mammal within the <br />• survey area, but many other mammals were nearly as abundant, including the porcupine <br />(Erethizon dorsatum), yellow - bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris), and least chipmunk <br />(Neotamias minimus). <br />5.0 CONCLUSIONS <br />The habitats within the Sage Creek Mine study area are typical of the Williams Fork Mountain <br />Range and the associated foothills in northwest Colorado. With the possible exception of the <br />successful reclaimed grasslands located among the higher elevations of the Seneca II Mine (in the <br />eastern portion of the Sage Creek Mine survey area), no unique or unusual vegetative <br />communities are present in the permit area or surrounding habitats. No critical habitat was <br />identified for any threatened or endangered vertebrate species that may occur in the area. Two <br />bald eagles were observed during the June surveys and suitable habitat for this species exists <br />north of the mine area, but no evidence of concentrated use was documented or is expected in the <br />mine survey area. <br />The Sage Creek Mine study area supports a rather robust population of elk. Records between <br />2000 and 2007 from overlapping surveys on the Seneca II and Yoast Mines have reported elk <br />25 <br />