RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 



WILDLIFE SPECIES PARAMETERS 



Tabular Summary 



Data obtained for the 199 species of vertebrates observed through 

 the monitoring period (5 species of amphibians, 7 of reptiles, 160 

 of birds, and 27 of mammals) are summarized in Tables 2, 3 and 4. The 

 types of data included and the abbreviations used are as described on 

 pp. 41 and 56 of the WBS. Note that any additions or changes to the 

 baseline data resulting from the first year's monitoring study are 

 printed in italics. 



Table 5 summarizes the cumulative numbers of species encountered 

 in the study areas during the baseline study and through the first 

 monitoring period. It can be seen from this table that 23 new ver- 

 tebrate species were added to the species list as a result of the mon- 

 itoring effort; these include 1 species of amphibian, 21 of birds, and 

 1 mammal. Most of the new species added (14, or 61% of the 23 new species) 

 were migrant birds. 



Narrative Accounts for Selected Species 



Data in addition to that present in Tables 2 through 4 were 

 obtained for certain species, and are summarized in the following 

 species accounts. In general, information presented here is limited 

 to nesting raptors, upland game birds, and ungulates, and is primarily 

 an assessment of changes occurring in the mine study area since the 

 baseline study. 



Red-Tailed Hawl^. The nest located on the proposed mining area in 

 1977 was active in 1978 as well, and produced at least two young. The 

 other nest in the mine study area was not visited in 1978. 



Swainson's Hawk . Swainson's hawks were frequently seen in the mine 

 study area, but no active nests were located. A pair was observed building 

 a nest in a cottonwood near the end of the Circle Route on May 20, 1978, 

 but the nest was abandoned by June 20. 



Ferruginous Hawk. A pair was seen repeatedly calling overhead 

 near the location of the 1977 active nest, but the nest was empty in 

 iy/8. It IS believed the pair nested at another nearby site in 1978 



