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Resident wintering passerines were censused along the same transects for <br /> three consecutive days during early January, 1980 in all of the vegetation <br /> types censused for breeding birds. Due to the weather conditions and to the <br /> low passerine diversity at this time of year, a flush census technique was <br /> used. The numbers of all birds flushed, perched or flying over the 0.5 km <br /> paced strip transect were recorded by species and habitat type. Strip transects <br /> were run throughout the daylight hours. <br /> Qualitative surveys of areas not subjected to strip census were conducted in <br /> June during mid-day and late afternoon to compile a complete list of birds <br /> occupying the study site. Strip censuses often do not account for all species <br /> and since the breeding bird strip-census was only conducted during early <br /> morning hours, time was left at mid-day and late afternoon for qualitative <br /> avian surveys. <br /> Raptors. All raptors and their nest sites protected by the Migratory Bird <br /> Treaty Act (certain hawks) , The Eagle Protection Act (golden and bald eagles) <br /> and the proposed Federal Coal Management Program Criteria (Criteria #15 deals <br /> with falcons and eagles) were identified for the study area during all field <br /> investigations (see Results, page 37) . Also, potential raptor nesting sites <br /> were identified and mapped during ground activities. All potential nest sites <br /> identified during these surveys were subjected to intensive ground studies <br /> during the height of the 1979 reproductive season to determine whether they were <br /> occupied by nesting pairs of peregrine falcons, bald or golden eagles, prairie <br /> falcons or other protected raptors. The skyline watch was eiTployed to survey <br /> all potential nesting areas. It is virtually certain that nesting adult raptors <br /> will leave their nest site to forage at least once and often several times a <br /> day during the time they have young on the nest. Any birds nesting in the area <br /> are easily seen this time of the year during skyline watches of 4-6 hours in <br /> Length at strategic locations. Each actual or potential nest site identified was <br /> visited subsequent to the skyline watch to determine its status (i.e. , active <br /> or inactive) . The occupants of active nest sites were observed with a spotting <br /> scope from a distance to determine their species and numbers. For active and <br /> inactive nest sites, location, habitat type, nest substrate and height <br /> off of ground were recorded. The species and numbers of all raptors sighted <br /> -7- <br /> JUN 1980 <br />