Raptors 



Six species of hawks and one species of owl were observed on 

 the study area. Inconspicuous species such as screech owls 

 and saw-whet owls may have been overlooked. Goshawks and 

 sharp-shinned hawks were observed within ten miles of the 

 study area, and suitable nesting habitat for them was present 

 in the study area. 



Turkey vultures were common, and there were many suitable 

 nesting areas for them in the study area. 



Accipters : One Cooper's hawk was seen just outside the study 

 area boundary on 11 June 1980 (Figure 37). It was nesting 

 on or near the study area. 



Buteos : Two active red-tailed hawk nests were found on the 

 study area in 1979. One of these was also active in 1980 

 (Figure 37). One nest was in a ponderosa pine tree and the 

 other nest was in a cottonwood tree (Table 58). 



Harriers : Marsh hawks were seen several times hunting over 

 sagebrush habitat. They may have nested in the study area. 



Falcons : Kestrels were the most common raptor in the study 

 area (Figure 37) » One was active in 1979 and the other was 

 active both in 1979 and 1980 (Table 58). Suitable nest 

 potholes are present on several other cliffs in the study area. 



Ow 1 s : Great horned owls were occasionally seen in the study 

 area. One nest was found in a pothole on a cliff in 1979. 



Table 58. Raptor nest sites on the Prairie Dog Creek study area. 



Nest Activity 



No. Species Substrate 1979 1980 



1. Red-tailed Cottonwood 1 young fledged 1 young fledged 



hawk tree 



2. Red-tailed Ponderosa 2 young fledged Status unknown 



hawk pine tree 



3. Prairie Cliff Active - no Inactive 



falcon production data 



4. Prairie Cliff Fledged 4 young Fledged 4 young 



falcon 



QQ 



