Laserfiche WebLink
Administrative Draft Environmental Impact Report <br /> Gill Medical Center Project <br /> magpie (Pica nuttathi). The following is a brief discussion of special-status birds with the potential to occur <br /> within the Study Area. <br /> White-Tailed Kite <br /> White-tailed kite is not listed pursuant to either the federal or California ESAs; however, the species is fully <br /> protected pursuant to Section 3511 of the California Fish and Game Code and is a SJMSCP covered <br /> species. This species is a common resident in the Central Valley and the entire length of the California <br /> coast, and all areas up to the Sierra Nevada foothills and southeastern deserts (Dunk 2020). In northern <br /> California, white-tailed kite nesting occurs from March through early August, with nesting activity peaking <br /> from March through June. Nesting occurs in trees within riparian, oak woodland, savannah, and <br /> agricultural communities that are near foraging areas such as low elevation grasslands, agricultural, <br /> meadows, farmlands, savannahs, and emergent wetlands (Dunk 2020).The trees located within the onsite <br /> ruderal areas and in ruderal areas bordering the Study Area represent potential nesting habitat for this <br /> species. <br /> Cooper's Hawk <br /> Cooper's hawk is not listed pursuant to either the federal or California ESAs; however, it is a CDFW "watch <br /> list" species and a SJMSCP covered species. Typical nesting and foraging habitats include riparian <br /> woodland, dense oak woodland, and other woodlands near water. Cooper's hawk nest throughout <br /> California from Siskiyou County to San Diego County including the Central Valley (Rosenfield et al. 2020). <br /> Breeding occurs during March through July, with a peak from May through July.The trees located within <br /> the onsite ruderal areas and in ruderal areas bordering the Study Area represent potential nesting habitat <br /> for this species. <br /> Swainson's Hawk <br /> The Swainson's hawk is listed as a threatened species and protected pursuant to the California ESA and a <br /> SJMSCP covered species. This species nests in North America (Canada, western U.S., and Mexico) and <br /> typically winters from South America north to Mexico. However, a small population has been observed <br /> wintering in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta (Bechard et al. 2020). In California, the nesting <br /> season for Swainson's hawk ranges from mid-March to late August. <br /> Swainson's hawks nest within tall trees in a variety of wooded communities including riparian, oak <br /> woodland, roadside landscape corridors, urban areas, and agricultural areas, among others. Foraging <br /> habitat includes open grassland, savannah, low-cover row crop fields, and livestock pastures. In the <br /> Central Valley, Swainson's hawks typically feed on a combination of California vole (Microtus californicus), <br /> California ground squirrel, ring-necked pheasant (Phasionus colchicus), many passerine birds, and <br /> grasshoppers (Melanopulus species). Swainson's hawks are opportunistic foragers and will readily forage <br /> in association with agricultural mowing, harvesting, disking, and irrigating (Estep 1989). The removal of <br /> vegetative cover by such farming activities results in more readily available prey items for this species.The <br /> trees located within the onsite ruderal areas and in ruderal areas bordering the Study Area represent <br /> potential nesting habitat for this species. Suitable Swainson's hawk foraging habitat onsite is limited to <br /> the fallow agricultural field. <br /> Biological Resources 4.6-22 October 2021 <br />