HomeMy WebLinkAboutSOUTH TRANSIT CENTER - PDP - 9-10 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTThe red-tailed hawk nest is located further to the east (next to college) and the tree should not be
impacted by the construction of the South Transit Center. However, the hawks could be disturbed by the
noise of the construction and by the increase in human presence. The nesting season usually lasts from
April through August or early September. It is recommended that a presence/absence survey be
conducted prior to the start of construction.
Since the great horned owl nests are located in an area that would be used for the construction of the
South Transit Center, the trees where the nests are located would have to be removed. Great horned
owls usually begin nesting earlier than other raptors (late January or early February) and incubation lasts
about a month. The young stay exclusively in the nest for six to seven weeks and begin to fly when they
are ten to twelve weeks of age. It is recommended that the removal of the tree occur after the young can
fly and have left the nest. However, the great horned owls are known to be year round residents of the
area and may still use the nest as a perch or roost after the nesting season. Great horned owls may use
abandoned nests of other species such as red-tailed hawks, herons, crows, or old leaf nests of squirrels.
There were several squirrel leaf nests in trees that were located further east of the construction site that
could possibly be used by the owls as a replacement. Although no permit is required to destroy a nest
that is not active, prior to construction and/or the destruction of the nests, it is recommended that a
presence/absence survey be conducted.
Shane Craig the District Wildlife Manager from the Colorado Division of Wildlife was contacted on
January 28th to discuss the removal of the trees where the owl nests are located. He stated that no
permits should be needed if the trees are removed after the nesting season, but USFWS should be
contacted. USFWS was contacted and a message was left with the Migratory Bird Permit office.
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The other two nests were located just east of the resident's
home (see Figure 2). According to the resident, the nest further
east (GH01) is currently being used by great horned owls (Bubo
virginianus) that nest and raise their young, as well as winter in
this location.
The resident stated that the other nest (GH02) is a possible new
nest that could have been built by the great horned owls,
possibly for use this nesting season. No owls were observed on
either of the nests during the January 26th survey.
Raptors, including red -tail hawks and great horned owls, are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird
Treaty Act (MBTA). The MBTA specifically protects migratory birds, their eggs, feathers or nests from
posession, sale, purchase, barter, transport, import, and export, and take. The regulatory definition of
take, means to pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or attempt to pursue, hunt, shoot,
wound, kill, trap, capture or collect. Under the regulations of the MBTA depredation permits are required
for the destruction of any active migratory bird nests. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has
formulated a policy that a permit for destruction of nests that are not active is not needed. An "active"
nest is one that contains eggs or young birds. Nests that are in the process of being constructed or nests
that have been abandoned after a breeding season are not "active" nests.
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Figure 2: Raptor Nest Locations
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One nest (RTH1) was located in a tree adjacent to College
Avenue (see Figure 2). During the interview, the site resident
indicated that a red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) has been
using the nest for several years.
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303M
MEMO
Michael Baker Jr., Inc.
To: The City of Fort Collins Date: January 28, 2010
From: Tamara Keefe, Wildlife Biologist
Re: Raptor Nest Survey for South Transit Center
A raptor nest survey was completed on January 26 for the location of the South Transit Center (STC)
which is planned south of the Harmony Road and College Avenue intersection in Fort Collins, Colorado
(see Figure 1). There is one resident within the area and she was interviewed during the survey.
Figure 1: Seventeen Acre Survey Area with 0.25 mile STC Buffer
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The survey area is approximately 17 acres. The entire survey area was walked and included several
mature trees suitable for raptor nests. Potential food sources for raptors were also observed including
squirrels, rabbits, and passerines. An additional 0.25 mile buffer around the potential South Transit
Center was also studied on an aerial map to locate suitable habitat. Since this area lies mostly on private
property, the area was driven to investigate areas with suitable habitat. No raptor nests were observed
within the additional 0.25 mile buffer. However, three raptor nests were located within the 17 acre survey
area. Figure 2 shows the locations of the nests.
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