Avenal Energy AFC 

### APPENDIX 6.6-4

SWAINSON’S HAWK MONITORING REPORT

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Quality Biological Services Through Technical Proficiency and Experienced Management 

# Bumgardner Biological Consulting

September 20, 2007

Joe Stenger TRC Solutions 2666 Rodman Drive Los Osos, CA 93402 Dear Mr. Stenger:

This letter report provides the results of 2007 monitoring for Swainson’s hawk ( Buteo swainsoni ) between the site of the propos ed Avenal Energy power project (Kings County) and California Departme nt of Water Resources (DWR) Arroyo Pasajero Detention Basin (Fresno Count y) (Figure 1). The monitoring was conducted at the request of the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) to determine if there is evidence of Swainson’ s hawk foraging or other use within the electrical transmission line corridor be tween the proposed pow er plant site and Pacific Gas and Electric Co mpany’s (PG&E) Gates Substation (i.e., route of the 6.4 miles of new electrical transm ission line proposed as part of the new power project).

The lands between the site of the proposed Avenal Energy power plant (i.e., project site) and Arroyo Pasajero Detention Basin (i .e., detention basin) were selected for monitoring given that all lo cal records of nesting Swai nson’s hawk from DFG and DWR databases are from the detention basi n (Figure 2). Therefore, it was assumed that daily movement of Swainson’s hawk s in the area would originate from the vicinity of nest sites within the detenti on basin. Monitoring was conducted for a minimum of eight hours on each of six da ys over a three-week period of time between July 17 and August 1, 2007. Monitoring consisted of: (1) observing the electrical transmission line corridor from several fi xed vantage points while watching for Swainson’s hawks and other ra ptors and (2) driving public roads and farm roads within the area while searching for roos ting or soaring Swainson’s hawks. All raptors found with in the area were observed and followed to the extent possible to maximize the amount of location and behavior data associated with the individual(s). The collected data associ ated with each observe d raptor included the date, time, location, and behavi or of the individual(s). Michael Bumgardner Bumgardner Biological Consulting 11571 Prospect Hill Drive Gold River, CA 95670-8216September 20, 2007 Page 2 

### The results of monitoring for Swainson’ s hawk within the monitoring area are summarized in Table 1. The monitoring found no evidence of Swainson’s hawk foraging or other uses within the existing electrical transmission line corridor south of the Gates Substation. Furthermore, w ith one exception (an immature Swainson’s hawk observed sitting on a telephone pole on th e south side of Jayne Avenue east of Lassen Avenue), no foraging or other us es by Swainson’s hawks were documented south of Jayne Avenue. These results are not unexpected given th at most of the land south of Jayne Avenue is comprised of or chards (an unsuitable foraging habitat for Swainson’s hawk) while the lands north of Jayne Avenue, surrounding the City of Huron, and in the vicinity of the deten tion basin are compri sed of field crops (typically tomatoes, cantaloupes, wheat , or onions) or non-native grassland. Consequently, Swainson’s hawks would not be expected to incur the bioenergetic costs of foraging further south over unsuitable foraging habitat when extensive acreage of suitable foraging habitat is lo cated immediately adjacent to the known nest sites.

Should you have any questions in regards to the surveys or information presented in this letter report please do not he sitate to contact me (916-638-7368).

Michael Bumgardner Bumgardner Biological ConsultingSeptember 20, 2007 Page 3



### Table 1 2007 Swainson’s Hawk Monitoring Data for Lands near the Arroyo Pasajero Detention Basin (near the City of Huron) Date/Time Location Notes 07-17-07 09:05 PST immediately northwest of Gale Avenue and San Luis Canal adult Swainson’s hawk soaring and calling; flew out of sight to northwest
07-17-07 09:22 PST 0.3 miles north of the intersection of Gale Avenue and San Luis Canal immature Swainson’s hawk sitting and soaring over detention basin
07-18-07 07:40 PST 0.3 miles north of the intersection of Gale Avenue and San Luis Canal immature Swainson’s hawk sitting and soaring over detention basin; mobbed by western kingbird
07-18-07 10:24 PST 0.3 miles north of the intersection of Gale Avenue and San Luis Canal immature Swainson’s hawk sitting on canal embankment looking east (suggests that adults may be foraging over lands to east) 07-23-07 08:29 PST along Lassen Avenue 1.5 miles north of Huron adult Swainson’s hawk sitting on telephone pole east of Lassen Road; 2 nd adult Swainson’s hawk sitting in low snag 100 yards east of Lassen Road; pair soared over dry grassland west of Lassen Avenue before flying out of sight to north 07-23-07 08:53 PST 0.7 miles west of Gale Avenue and San Luis Canal (approximately 150 yards south of Gale Avenue) adult Swainson’s hawk sitting in disked onion field; moved 50 feet to avoid active plowing; eventually flew to harvested tomato field north of Gale Avenue and approxima tely 1 mile west of Gale Avenue and San Lu is Canal; soared over field until flying out of sight to north with 2 nd individual 07-23-07 09:40 PST 1.0 mile west of Gale Avenue and San Luis Canal (approximately 200 yards north of Gale Avenue) Swainson’s hawk (age unknown) joined soaring individual and soared over tomato field north of Gale Avenue until flying out of sight to north 07-24-07 07:10 PST 0.3 miles north of the intersection of Gale Avenue and San Luis Canal immature Swainson’s hawk sitting in detention basin; flushed and flew to large cottonwood on west side of basin 07-24-07 07:54 PST along Lassen Avenue 1.5 miles north of Huron adult Swainson’s hawk sitting on low snag 50 yards west of Lassen Avenue in dry grassland; flew out of sight to southeast 07-24-07 08:07 PST 1.4 miles north of Huron and 0.9 miles east of Lassen Avenue adult Swainson’s hawk sitting on telephone pole along farm road adjacent to DWR lands (same individual from 07:54 PST?); soared over dry grassland to north until flying out of sight to north 07-31-07 19:57 PST along Lassen Avenue 1.4 miles north of Huron adult Swainson’s hawk sitting on telephone pole east of Lassen RoadSeptember 20, 2007 Page 4 08-01-07 07:48 PST 0.3 miles south of Jayne Avenue and 0.4 miles west of Lassen Avenue adult red-tailed hawk sitting on telephone pole along farm road
08-01-07 08:01 PST immediately south of Jayne Avenue 0.6 miles east of Lassen Avenue immature Swainson’s ha wk sitting on telephone pole south of Jayne Avenue overlooking tomato field to north; disturbed by harvesting operations in adjacent pepper field; flew to grove of Eucalyptus sp. along road at 15721 Jayne Avenue 08-01-07 08:48 PST 1.5 miles north of Huron and 0.9 miles east of Lassen Avenue adult red-tailed hawk s itting on ground along farm roadSeptember 20, 2007 Page 5 Figure 1September 20, 2007 Page 6 

### Figure 2