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Soil Investigations for Data Collection in the Delta Initial Study/Proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration 56 occurs from March through August, with peak activity from May through July (CDFW 1990a). Suitable habitat for Cooper’s Hawk is found throughout the Study Area, and the Study Area is within the range, and therefore it has a moderate potential to occur. Implementation of Mitigation Measures MM AES-1, MM BIO-1 and MM BIO-6 would reduce potential impacts to Cooper’s Hawk to: Less than Significant with Mitigation Incorporated. MM BIO-6: Raptors (excluding Swainson’s Hawk and Burrowing Owl) To minimize and avoid the potential impacts to special-status raptors that may occur within the Study Area the following general measures will be implemented: a. For soil investigation field activities that will occur between February 1 – August 31, a pre-activity survey for actively nesting raptors will be conducted by a qualified biologist a maximum of 72 hours prior to the onset of project activities. The qualified biologist(s) must, at a minimum, have experience conducting surveys to identify the specific species and associated habitat that could occur on site. b. If any active raptor nests are identified within or adjacent to an Impact Area by the pre-action survey, a buffer will be put in place to avoid disturbance to birds during and as a result of work activities. This buffer will be up to 250 feet, but can be smaller, dependent on-site conditions and at the discretion of the qualified biologist. c. Any identified actively nesting raptors will be monitored by a qualified biologist during soil investigation activities for signs of distress or disturbance as a result of field activities. Should the birds show signs of distress, work will cease at that location until the birds have resumed normal behavior and it is determined by the on-site biologist that work can be resumed. Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor) Tricolored Blackbird is listed as a Threatened under CESA and is currently under review for listing under FESA. Tricolored Blackbird is a medium-sized blackbird; males are larger than females with striking black plumage with red and white markings on the wings and females are dark brown with a whitish chin and throat (Beedy et al. 2017). The species is largely endemic to California, common locally throughout the Central Valley and along the coast. Preferred foraging habitats include crops such as rice, alfalfa, irrigated pastures, and ripening or cut grain fields, as well as annual grasslands and cattle feedlots. Tricolored Blackbirds also forage in remnant native habitats, including wet and dry vernal pools and