August 13, 2007

Abbie Jossie, Field Manager

Grants Pass Resource Area

Medford District Bureau of Land Management

US Department of the Interior

2164 NE Spalding Avenue

Grants Pass, OR 97504

Re: South Deer Landscape Management Project (EA #OR110-05-10)

Dear Ms. Jossie:

We are writing in regard to the South Deer Landscape Management Project.
The Northwest Ecosystem Survey Team (NEST) is an all-volunteer
organization that conducts surveys for red tree voles. We want to inform
you of the recent discovery of new red tree vole known sites in this
area which you intend to log. At South Deer, NEST discovered **11** red
tree vole nests that were previously unknown to the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM). NEST's discovery of new known sites is new information
important for environmental analysis and management.

# Qualifications

Members of the Northwest Ecosystem Survey Team have been locating
previously undiscovered red tree vole nests for seven years. NEST
volunteers have been trained by biologists or professionals working for
biologists. NEST volunteers receive several hundred hours of training to
locate and identify red tree vole nests. NEST volunteers have read and
understood the guidelines given in versions 2.0 and 2.1 of the Survey
Protocol for the Red Tree Vole. NEST volunteers have located nests in
the following timber sales: Clark timber sale, Lois timber sale, Slap
timber sale, Winberry timber sale, Nevergales timber sale, East Devil
timber sale, Straw Devil timber sale, Blue River Face timber sale, Pryor
timber sale, and Trapper timber sale in the Willamette National Forest;
Blodgett timber sale in the Umpqua National Forest; Cotton Snake timber
sale in the Medford Bureau of Land Management; Cowcatcher timber sale in
the Roseburg Bureau of Land Management; East Fork Coquille timber sale
in the Coos Bay Bureau of Land Management and East Fork, Tennessee Lime,
Anderson West timber sales in the Grants Pass resource area . Data
collected by NEST volunteers has been accepted by the Willamette
National Forest, Umpqua National Forest, and Coos Bay Bureau of Land
Management. Wildlife biologist Kurt Lundstrom of the Middle Fork Ranger
District of the Willamette National Forest has field verified red tree
vole nests discovered by NEST volunteers. Dr. Eric Forsman of Oregon
State University also verified red tree vole nests discovered by NEST
volunteers in June of 2006 and gave NEST training in 2006 as well.

# New Known Site Discoveries

All findings submitted below are based on observations gathered by
climbing trees. Each nest found was sampled for resin ducts and red tree
vole fecal pellets, and the samples are labeled with the nest tree
number. Activity status was determined by following the guidelines given
in versions 2.0 and 2.1 of the Survey Protocol for the Red Tree Vole.
The nest samples were delivered on August 14, 2007 to the BLM office in
Grants Pass. Data was gathered on each nest tree and is documented
below. Coordinates are provided for each known site that was discovered.
Nest trees are marked with flagging around the girth of the tree and a
silver metal plaque etched with the nest tree number. The flagging and
metal plaques also contain the nest height, branch support for the nest
and the nest aspect. The GPS datum is NAD27 CONUS. Nicholas Sobb is
available to lead your wildlife biologist or other professionals to
these newly discovered known sites.

Nest tree number: SD 27-001-**01**

Project: South Deer Unit: 27-001

UTMs: 0457815 / 4676113

Date climbed: June 14, 2007 Climber: N. Sobb Observer: J. Zayda

Tree species: Douglas fir (*Pseudotsuga menziesii*) Tree DBH: 137 cm

Type of nest: **active** Red Tree Vole (*Arborimus longicaudus*)

Nest height: 13.2 meters (43 feet) Nest dimensions: 80x40x30 cm Nest
aspect: 300

Nest support: branch whorl Nest distance from trunk: 0 cm

Presence of cuttings: yes, 1 fresh

Presence of fecal pellets: 5 cups of green to brown pellets

Presence of resin ducts: 5 cups of green to light brown resin ducts

Nest material sample submitted to BLM: Yes

Notes: none

Nest tree number: SD 27-001-**02**

Project: South Deer Unit: 27-001

UTMs: 0457900 / 4676237

Date climbed: June 15, 2007 Climber: N. Sobb Observer: J. Zayda

Tree species: Douglas fir (*Pseudotsuga menziesii*) Tree DBH: 95 cm

Type of nest: **inactive** Red Tree Vole (*Arborimus longicaudus*)

Nest height: 18.6 meters (61 feet) Nest dimensions: 50x50x20 cm Nest
aspect: 180

Nest support: branch whorl Nest distance from trunk: 0 cm

Presence of cuttings: yes, 1 fresh

Presence of fecal pellets: 5 cups of light brown to brown pellets

Presence of resin ducts: 5 cups of light brown to brown resin ducts

Nest material sample submitted to BLM: Yes

Notes: none

Nest tree number: SD 27-001-**03**

Project: South Deer Unit: 27-001

UTMs: 0457894 / 4676200

Date climbed: June 15, 2007 Climber: J. Zayda Observer: N. Sobb

Tree species: Douglas fir (*Pseudotsuga menziesii*) Tree DBH: 95 cm

Type of nest: **inactive** Red Tree Vole (*Arborimus longicaudus*)

Nest height: 15.3 meters (50.2 feet) Nest dimensions: 20x20x35 cm Nest
aspect: 160

Nest support: branch whorl Nest distance from trunk: 0 cm

Presence of cuttings: yes, 1 fresh

Presence of fecal pellets: 2 cups of brown pellets

Presence of resin ducts: 2 cups of brown resin ducts

Nest material sample submitted to BLM: Yes

Notes: none

Nest tree number: SD 27-001-**04**

Project: South Deer Unit: 27-001

UTMs: 0458029 / 4676091

Date climbed: June 17, 2007 Climber: J. Zayda Observer: N. Sobb

Tree species: Douglas fir (*Pseudotsuga menziesii*) Tree DBH:

Type of nest: **active** Red Tree Vole (*Arborimus longicaudus*)

Nest height: 26.4 meters (86.6 feet) Nest dimensions: 60x60x70 cm Nest
aspect: 0

Nest support: fork top Nest distance from trunk: 0 cm

Presence of cuttings: yes, 5 fresh

Presence of fecal pellets: 2 cups of green pellets

Presence of resin ducts: 3 cups of green resin ducts

Nest material sample submitted to BLM: Yes

Notes: none

Nest tree number: SD 27-006-**01**

Project: South Deer Unit: 27-006

UTMs: 0458396 / 4676264

Date climbed: June 16, 2007 Climber: N. Sobb Observer: J. Zayda

Tree species: Douglas fir (*Pseudotsuga menziesii*) Tree DBH: 121cm

Type of nest: **active** Red Tree Vole (*Arborimus longicaudus*)

Nest height: 28 meters (91.8 feet) Nest dimensions: 70x50x30 cm Nest
aspect: 200

Nest support: branch whorl Nest distance from trunk: 0 cm

Presence of cuttings: yes, 5 desiccated green cuttings

Presence of fecal pellets: 5 cups of green to brown pellets

Presence of resin ducts: 5 cups of green to brown resin ducts

Nest material sample submitted to BLM: Yes

Notes: none

Nest tree number: SD 27-006-**02**

Project: South Deer Unit: 27-006

UTMs: 0458420 / 4676239

Date climbed: June 16, 2007 Climber: N. Sobb Observer: J. Zayda

Tree species: Douglas fir (*Pseudotsuga menziesii*) Tree DBH: 121cm

Type of nest: **inactive** Red Tree Vole (*Arborimus longicaudus*)

Nest height: 33.2 meters (109 feet) Nest dimensions: 50x30x20 cm Nest
aspect: n/a

Nest support: fork top Nest distance from trunk: n/a

Presence of cuttings: none

Presence of fecal pellets: 2 cups of brown pellets

Presence of resin ducts: 2 cups of brown resin ducts

Nest material sample submitted to BLM: Yes

Notes: none

Nest tree number: SD 27-006-**03**

Project: South Deer Unit: 27-006

UTMs: 0457997 / 4675968

Date climbed: June 18, 2007 Climber: N. Sobb Observer: J. Zayda

Tree species: Douglas fir (*Pseudotsuga menziesii*) Tree DBH: 160cm

Type of nest: **active** Red Tree Vole (*Arborimus longicaudus*)

Nest height: 24.5 meters (80.3 feet) Nest dimensions: undeterminable
Nest aspect: 220

Nest support: single branch cavity Nest distance from trunk: n/a

Presence of cuttings: yes, 7 fresh

Presence of fecal pellets: ½ cup of green to brown pellets

Presence of resin ducts: 1 cup of green to brown resin ducts

Nest material sample submitted to BLM: Yes

Notes: none

Nest tree number: SD 27-006-**04**

Project: South Deer Unit: 27-006

UTMs: 0458308 / 4675993

Date climbed: June 18, 2007 Climber: N. Sobb Observer: J. Zayda

Tree species: Douglas fir (*Pseudotsuga menziesii*) Tree DBH: 160cm

Type of nest: **active** Red Tree Vole (*Arborimus longicaudus*)

Nest height: 9.8 meters (32 feet) Nest dimensions: undeterminable Nest
aspect: 180

Nest support: cavity Nest distance from trunk: 0

Presence of cuttings: yes, 2 very recent

Presence of fecal pellets: 4 cups of brown pellets

Presence of resin ducts: 4 cups of green to brown resin ducts

Nest material sample submitted to BLM: Yes

Notes: none

Nest tree number: SD 27-006-**05**

Project: South Deer Unit: 27-006

UTMs: 0458420 / 4676108

Date climbed: June 19, 2007 Climber: N. Sobb Observer: J. Zayda

Tree species: Douglas fir (*Pseudotsuga menziesii*) Tree DBH: 161cm

Type of nest: **active** Red Tree Vole (*Arborimus longicaudus*)

Nest height: 42.8 meters (140.4 feet) Nest dimensions: undeterminable
Nest aspect: 70

Nest support: cavity Nest distance from trunk: 0

Presence of cuttings: yes, 1 moderately recent

Presence of fecal pellets: 4 cups of brown pellets

Presence of resin ducts: 4 cups of light green to dark brown resin ducts

Nest material sample submitted to BLM: Yes

Notes: none

Nest tree number: SD 27-006-**06**

Project: South Deer Unit: 27-006

UTMs: 0458385 / 4675926

Date climbed: June 28, 2007 Climber: N. Sobb Observer: J. Zayda

Tree species: Douglas fir (*Pseudotsuga menziesii*) Tree DBH: 82.8 cm

Type of nest: **inactive** Red Tree Vole (*Arborimus longicaudus*)

Nest height: 17.4 meters (57 feet) Nest dimensions: 50x50x30 Nest
aspect: 330

Nest support: branch whorl Nest distance from trunk: 0

Presence of cuttings: none

Presence of fecal pellets: 1/2 cup of brown pellets

Presence of resin ducts: 1/2 cup of brown resin ducts

Nest material sample submitted to BLM: Yes

Notes: nest has been usurped by a squirrel.

Nest tree number: SD 27-005-**01**

Project: South Deer Unit: 27-005

UTMs: 0457764 / 4676132

Date climbed: June 20, 2007 Climber: N. Sobb Observer: J. Zayda

Tree species: Douglas fir (*Pseudotsuga menziesii*) Tree DBH:

Type of nest: **active** Red Tree Vole (*Arborimus longicaudus*)

Nest height: 16.7 meters (54.7 feet) Nest dimensions: 60x70x50 Nest
aspect: 135

Nest support: palmate branch cluster Nest distance from trunk: 100 cm

Presence of cuttings: yes, 11 moderately recent to moderately old.

Presence of fecal pellets: 1/2 cup of brown pellets

Presence of resin ducts: 1/4 cup of light green to tan to brown resin
ducts

Nest material sample submitted to BLM: Yes

Notes: none

# Chain of Custody of Samples

All samples are originally collected by the person who climbs the nest
tree. A sample is put into a plastic bottle while in the tree. After
returning to the ground, the climber keeps the sample in his or her
possession until it can be given to Nicholas Sobb on the same day it is
collected. Then the sample is encased in plastic and labeled with the
nest tree number. All samples are in the possession of Mr. Sobb until
given to the BLM.

If you need additional information or clarification, please contact NEST
at 541-951-7494 or the address below.

Sincerely,

Northwest Ecosystem Survey Team

c/o Laura Beaton

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ PO Box 955

Nicholas Sobb Ashland, OR 97520