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Loggerhead Shrike.If project construction begins during the nesting season(April 1–August 31),pre- construction surveys shall be conducted during the nesting season in suitable nesting habitat within 100 feet of areas of project activity. The survey shall be conducted within the 2 weeks before construction or tree removal begins. A setback of 100 feet from loggerhead shrike nesting areas shall be established and maintained during the nesting season for the period encompassing nest building and continuing until �^ fledglings leave nests. This setback applies whenever construction or other ground-disturbing activities must begin during the nesting season in the presence of nests that are known to be occupied. Setbacks shall be marked by brightly colored temporary fencing. California Horned Lark and Tricolored Blackbird. If project construction begins during the nesting season(April 1–August 31),pre-construction surveys shall be conducted during the nesting season in suitable nesting habitat within 500 feet of areas of project activity. A setback of 500 feet from California horned lark and tricolored blackbird nesting areas shall be established and maintained during the nesting season for the period encompassing nest building and continuing until fledglings leave nests. This setback applies whenever construction or other ground-disturbing activities must begin during the nesting season in the presence of nests that are known to be occupied. Setbacks shall be marked by brightly colored temporary fencing. Implementation of the above mitigation measure would reduce construction-related impacts on other special- status nesting birds to a less-than-significant level. IMPACT Biological Resources—Loss of Foraging Habitat for Other Special-Status Birds. The proposed project ` 4.10.8 would result in conversion of potential foraging habitat for a number of other special-status bird species. None of these species are expected to nest at the College Park site. Similar foraging habitat is locally and regionally abundant,and loss of foraging habitat would be compensated for through implementation of the MHMP. A less-than-significant impact would occur. Agricultural and fallow fields at the College Park site could be used as foraging habitat by snowy egret,white- faced ibis,Aleutian Canada goose,ferruginous hawk, golden eagle,American peregrine falcon,prairie falcon, merlin, greater sandhill crane,mountain plover,and long-billed curlew. Based on the estimated amount of agricultural habitat present at the College Park site,approximately 600 acres of suitable foraging habitat for these species would be lost as a result of College Park implementation. None of these species are expected to nest on the project site,because it is not within their normal nesting range or because reconnaissance surveys confirmed there is no suitable nesting habitat at the College Park site. Potential impacts to these species are associated only with the conversion of potential foraging habitat,which is locally and regionally abundant. In addition, compensation for loss of Swainson's hawk foraging habitat(MEW Section 7.3.3)would also compensate for loss of foraging habitat for these other special-status bird species. Therefore, a less-than-significant impact would occur. Mitigation Measure 4.10.8: Biological Resources—Loss of Foraging Habitat for Other Special-Status Birds No mitigation is required. IMPACT Biological Resources—Conversion of San Joaquin Kit Fox Habitat and Possible Occupied Den 4.1 D-9 Destruction. The proposed project would convert low-quality habitat for San Joaquin kit fox. Kit fox could possibly den and forage at the College Park site, and implementation of College Park could result in destruction of occupied dens. A significant impact could occur. The agricultural and developed habitats of the College Park site provide low-quality kit fox habitat,and it is unlikely kit fox use the College Park site as foraging habitat(Zentner and Zentner 1993). Therefore,conversion of this habitat would not result in a substantial loss of kit fox foraging habitat. However, San Joaquin kit fox are thought to use the Delta–Mendota Canal,which is adjacent to the southwest corner of the College Park site,as a movement corridor(USFWS 1998). This portion of the College Park site also has a high density of burrows College Park at Mountain House Specific Plan III Draft EIR EDAW San Joaquin County 4.10-39 Biological Resources