2012-01-06_PERMIT FILE - C1982057A (2)

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situated within cavities on sandstone bluffs located primarily to the west of the Seneca • II-W permit area (Exhibit 11-3). Only one nest was located within the boundaries of the Seneca II-W permit area, this an 'old hawk nest located within an aspen tree in the NWl„SWI, of Section 23, TSN, R88W. Information including nest location, nesting substrate, nest status, raptor species utilizing each nest, and production is presented on Table 11-10. As indicated, only nests 5, 9, and 10 were recorded to be active. Nest surveys conducted during 1979 revealed the location of only eight nests within the Seneca II-W permit area, nests 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 11 as presented on Exhibit 11-3. Data collected during these searches indicate that, as in 1982, only three nests were utilized by raptors for nesting purposes (Table 11-10). Came Birds. Blue grouse (Dendragapus obscurus), mourning dove (Zenaida macroura), and common snipe (Capella galling ga) were the only upland game birds observed on the study area. Observations of blue grouse occurred primarily in mixed brush habitat and in mixed brush-aspen ecotone areas. Shrubs and forbs are principal food items of this bird species during the summer months while conifer needles and buds are the predominant food items in the winter (Rodgers, 1968). Since conifer habitat is limited to a few small isolated • stands within the study area, blue grouse populations on the study area are likely to be lower during the winter months than in the summer months. 81 ue grouse generally move to heavily timbered areas at higher elevations in the winter and return to breed, nest, and raise broods in mountain shrub and aspen habitat in the summer (Rodgers, 1968). Mourning dove were most commonly observed in the mixed brush and sagebrush communities while common snipe was only observed near the mouth of Hubberson Gulch where forbs, grasses, and sedges provide a small amount of wet meadow habitat. Sage grouse (Centrocercus uro phasianus) and sharp-tailed grouse (Pedioecetes phasianellus) are the only other upland game bird species which could potentially occur on the study area. CDOW Wildlife Resources Information (Inventory Mapping) designate the entire study area as an overall distribution area for both of these species but low population numbers are indicated. Estimates of .88 birds/mil and 3.55 birds/mil, respectively for sia rp-tailed grouse and sage grouse were given. No sharp-tailed grouse dancing grounds or sage grouse strutting grounds are known to occur on or near the study area. Searches during May of 1982 did not result in an observation of any sharp tailed grouse dancing • ground in the Seneca II-W vicinity. 20