Mitigation planning for raptors during mining

Conference · Mon Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:56913

Platt, S W ^[1]; Hargis, N E ^[2]

---

1. Wyoming Dept. of Environmental Quality/Land Quality Division, Lander, WY (United States)
2. Bridger Coal Co., Rock Springs, WY (United States)

Birds of prey and their eggs, young and nests are protected by state and federal laws and regulations. Surface mining operators may experience conflicts with raptors when expanding into nesting areas or when raptors are attracted into mining areas. State and federal permits are required for disturbance or manipulation of birds of prey. Mitigation planning for raptors begins before mining and continues through mining. As conflict situations changes, so must the mitigation plan. Before each nesting season the mining schedule should be compared to areas of known raptor nesting activity. If overlap occurs, nest protection measures may be needed. Areas of potential conflict should be patrolled regularly to identify the presence of a raptor pair and nest starts. Should a raptor nest be built and eggs laid, a change in the mining schedule or an egg or brood manipulation may resolve the conflict. Bridger Coal Company has successfully mitigated conflicts with 3 raptor species. A ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis) nest with brood was successfully relocated across a pit. Red-tailed hawk (B. jamaicensis) egg clutches were removed from 2 highwall nests and transported in a portable incubator to a commercial raptor propagator where they were hatched, fed and conspecifically imprinted until achieving self-thermoregulation. All chicks were returned to the mine and successfully placed into foster nests. A metal artificial nest ledge for a prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus) was constructed in a cliff and a traditional nesting ledge rendered inaccessible. The falcon pair successfully nested in the artificial ledge.

• OSTI ID: 56913
• Report Number(s): CONF-9003298--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
ANIMAL BREEDING
BIRDS
COAL MINES
EGGS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
HABITAT
LAND USE
NESTS
SURFACE MINING