HomeMy WebLinkAboutFORT COLLINS NISSAN-KIA - PDP210017 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 2 - WILDLIFE DOCUMENTS
937 Mallard Drive, Ft. Collins, CO 80521 * (970) 224-0851 * www.bluemountainenvironmental.com
November 29, 2021
Cathy Mathis, APA
TB Group
444 Mountain Avenue
Berthoud, CO 80513
RE: Redtail Grove Natural Area Raptor Nest Survey Ms. Mathis: The portion of Redtail Grove Natural Area situated north of Fossil Creek, west of College
Avenue and east of the railroad track was surveyed for raptor (stick) nests in compliance with
City of Fort Collins Community Development and Neighborhood Services correspondence dated
November 5, 2021. A stick nest was historically documented within a cottonwood tree north of
Fossil Creek, but there are no stick nests within the survey area at this time.
A field assessment was conducted in the last week of November per the Colorado Parks and
Wildlife Raptor Monitoring Volunteer Program Handbook (CPW 2018). Surveys were
conducted on three days at different times each day. In addition, each tree within the survey area
was evaluated for stick nests.
Red-tailed hawks were observed perched on trees nearby Fossil Creek Trail during each
monitoring visit. Courtship or nesting behaviors were not observed and are not anticipated at this
time of year. No evidence of historical stick nests, nest remnants or large quantities of whitewash
were observed, suggesting that nesting activity has not occurred in the area for several seasons.
(One monitoring event extended past sunset to increase the likelihood of observing an owl, but
owls were not observed.)
A buffer zone between Redtail Grove Natural Area and the Fort Collins Nissan-Kia construction
site is not necessary at this time because stick nests and raptor courtship activity were not
observed; however, additional surveys may be required if site activities are initiated between
February 15 and August 31. Additional guidance is provided by Colorado Parks and Wildlife in
‘Recommended Buffer Zones and Seasonal Restrictions for Colorado Raptors (2020).
Feel free to contact me with questions.
Sincerely,
Matt Tobler
Natural Resource Specialist, Certified Ecologist
Blue Mountain Environmental Consulting, LLC