2012-03-07_PERMIT FILE - C2010088 ‎(19)‎

• Permit No: C2010088
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 3/7/2012
• Doc Name: Wildlife Report
• Section_Exhibit Name: Exhibit 10
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Table 3. Bird species observed during environmental surveys within
one -half mile of the McClave Canyon loadout facility project area.
Common Name
Scienti ac Name
Red-winged Blackbird
A elaius phoeniceus
Great - tailed Grackle
Quiscalus mexicannus
Western Meadowlark
Sturnella ne lecta
Brewer's Blackbird
Euphagus c anoce halus
Brown - headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
Black - headed Grosbeak
Pheucticus melanoce halus
Twenty -four sites were found where birds were nesting or were potentially nesting based on
behavior that is typical of the establishment of a nesting territory (singing, defensive behavior,
distraction display, or agitated by presence of observer). Descriptions of observation are
presented in Table 4 and locations of observation are shown on Figure 2.
Lark Sparrow and Vesper Sparrow nesting habitat will likely be directly affected by removal of
potential nesting vegetation during construction of the rail spur. Breeding bird surveys show an
estimated density of 0.22 nests /acre for Lark Sparrow and 0.07 nests /acre for Vesper Sparrow.
Both species nest on the ground, most likely under greasewood in the project area. Other
breeding birds detected during surveys were observed along Reed Wash or in the Loma Drain
wetlands. One Mourning Dove nest was observed within the boundary of the land farm (Photo
7).
Table 4. Bird nest sites and likely nesting territories within the loadout facility project
area (Yellow = confirmed nesting).
Figure 2
F
Location
Species
Nest Observation/Nesting Behavior
Nesting colony under U.S. Highway 50 bridge that
1
Cliff Swallows
sans Reed Wash.
Territorial display (singing) in greasewood: likely
2
Vesper Sparrow
nesting territory.
Calling, observed on two pedestrian surveys: likely
3
Mourning Dove
nesting in tamarisk.
Rail flew from reed canarygrass, landed and
employed a distraction display, leading the observer
4
Virginia Rail
away from suspected nest area.
5
Lark Sparrow
Territorial display sin in : likely nesting territory.
Possible nesting, defensive display to presence of
6
Robin
observer.
Territorial display (singing) in greasewood: likely
7
Lark Sparrow
nesting te itory.
8
Robin
Possible nesting.
9
Bank Swallow
Observed adults entering nesting hole in the bank of
12