Laserfiche WebLink
C <br />yon - juniper woodland on the eastern portion of the mine boundary. This individ- <br />ual was observed foraging for insects in a rocky outcropping. One yellow <br />warbler was observed in the grove of trees northeast of the farmhouse on <br />the study area. Yellow warblers are commonly found in thickets and orchard's. <br />Raptorial Birds. The study area is used as hunting habitat for at least five <br />different raptor species; red - tailed hawk, American kestrel, Cooper's hawk, <br />rough - legged hawk, and marsh hawk. Location of all sightings of these species <br />are provided in Appendix A, Zap 11 -2. The occurrence and seasonal use of the <br />study area and potential important habitat (i.e., nesting) is discussed below <br />for each of the raptor species observed on the study area. . <br />Red-tailed hawk. The Nucla study area occurs on the border between the summar <br />and winter range of the red - tailed hawk (Robbins at al. 1966). However, this <br />raptor was not observed during winter field studies at Nucla. Four observa- <br />tions did occur near the study area during the period May - September, 1979. <br />Observations included one pair of red - tailed hawks hunting the spoil piles <br />approximately : mile south of the mine headquarters and one red-tailed hawk <br />approximately one mile west of the study area in Septezber, 1979. <br />Red- tailed hawk nests were not located on the Nucla study area during 1979. <br />However, one female red - tailed hawk was observed on a stick nest in a cotton- <br />wood grove located approximately one mile east of the mine headquarters in May, <br />1979. The number of young in the nest was not determined. <br />Red - tailed hawks commonly nest on sheer cliff faces or in trees located in <br />agricultural areas. Potential nesting habitat in the Nucla study area exists <br />in the trees along the riparian habitat and in the wind break northeast of <br />the farmhouse. Potential nesting opportunities are greater offsite; sand- <br />stone cliffs and outcroppings and pinyon - juniper woodlands occur east of the <br />mine permit boundry. <br />Cooper's hawk. The Nucla study area occurs within year -round range of the <br />Cooper's hawk. Only one Cooper's hawk was observed near the study area; <br />this individual was sighted approximately 1 1 mile south of the mine headquarters <br />-37- <br />JIM 1 1 1980 <br />