2013-05-01_PERMIT FILE - C1981028A

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The flood plain communities provide excellent wintering habitat for the northern bald eagle, which probably relies heavily on carrion and wounded waterfowl for a food supply. • Hawks and owls show little variation throughout the year, with a high of about 19 percent relative abundance in September and a low of about 6 percent in May. Three species within this grouping, the marsh hawk, sparrow hawk, and the red tailed hawk are the most frequently observed. The bobwhite quail and ringneck pheasant aze present in the irrigated portions of the South Platte River Valley year-round, with populations peaking during the summer. These species reach a relative abundance of about 14 percent during the summer, decreasing to a low of about 2 percent during the spring. The pigeon and dove group is represented within the area by two species, the rock dove and the mourning dove. The mourning dove is an important seasonal species accounting for increases of doves noted during the summer months. The rock dove is present throughout the year. The jays, magpies, and crows aze represented by the blackbilled magpie, blue jay and common crow. The magpie and blue jay are present throughout the yeaz, with the magpie being most common. The crow is not a common species within the area. The woodpecker group is represented within the area by the downy woodpecker • and red shafter flicker. These species are present year-round, with the flicker being the more abundant species. The blackbird and oriole group is most commonly represented by the meadowlazk. Large populations of this species account for a high relative abundance of this group within the area. Transient populations of seagulls have been observed in the mine site area. B. Endangered and Threatened Species: 2006 Update As part of the Keenesburg Mine, C-1981-028, Permit Renewal No. 5 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service required a status update of candidate or listed threatened or endangered species and/or their critical habitat as set forth in the procedural memo "United States Fish and Wildlife Service Coordination for Threatened and Endangered Species dated July 2006". As part of this new USFWS directive, threatened and endangered species lists must be checked regularly at every permit renewal where new acreage or new activities that could impact wildlife aze proposed. The threatened and endangered species list must be checked to see if any new species have been added or if there aze any new candidate species in the county(ies) of the proposed permit boundary. If new • species are added, the applicant must update the report, or biological assessment, to include all species. 95 10/06