Golden Eagle . The nest located in 1977 in the proposed mining area 

 fledged only one young in 1979. 



Marsh Hawk . The nest located on the silver sagebrush breeding census 

 plot fledged an undetermined number of young (probably at least four) in 

 1979. Although territorial pairs were observed elsewhere in the Mine Study 

 Area, no additional nests were discovered. 



Prairie F alcon . The 1977 nest site fledged four young in 1979. 



Peregrine Falcon . An adult male was seen at Scockpond MC05 on 

 October 7, 1979; its light axillaries were clearly seen. A possible but 

 unverified sighting was made on March 21, 1979, in section 4 of the Permit 

 Area. 



American Kestrel . A nest with at least three young was found in a 

 sandstone cliff in the northwestern corner of the proposed mining area. 



Sharp-tailed Grouse . At least 25 birds were displaying at lek No. 

 6 when visited in April, 1979. Two new leks. No. 13 (S14, f20N, R45E), 

 and 14 (S2, T20N, R45E) were located during the study period. Thirteen 

 birds were seen at lek 13 in April, 1979, and 25 birds were seen at lek 

 14 in October, 1979. No activity was observed at lek No. 7 (WBS), which 

 may have been abandoned. 



Sage Grouse . Only one sage grouse was observed in the Mine Study 

 Area in 1979; it was encountered in sagebrush-grassland of section 35, 

 area Y. No indications of breeding were noted, although lek No. 4 (WBS) 

 was not visited. 



Ring-necked Pheasant . Figure 5 shows year-to-year changes in June 

 sample abundances of ring-necked pheasants as sampled by five roadside 

 wildlife survey routes. Sample abundances decreased sharply between 1977 

 and 1978, probably because of the severe winter. The data indicate some 

 recovery between 1978 and 1979. The Missouri River and Prairie Elk routes 

 consistently have the highest sample abundances, while the Flowing Well and 

 Dreyer Ranch routes have the lowest. The pattern shown by a graph of aver- 

 age May-July sample abundances is virtually identical. 



Greac Horned Owl . Great horned owls showed an apparent population 

 increase in the Mine Study Area in 1979, possibly due to the small mammal 

 population increase. Three active nests were located in the northern por- 

 tion of the Mine Study Area (all had at least two young), but the nest 

 found in the old proposed mining area in 1978 was not used in 1979. 



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