Site 300: Swainson's Hawk Survey Report, 2019

Abstract

Garcia and Associates (GANDA) was contracted by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to conduct Swainson’s Hawk surveys as described by the Swainson’s Hawk Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) within Recommended Timing and Methodology for Swainson’s Hawk Nesting Surveys for the California Central Valley (2000) at Site 300. Surveys were conducted prior to planned well decommissioning activities on LLNL property along Corral Hollow Road in San Joaquin County, located west of Tracy. Well decommissioning work started in the fall of 2018, and two sites require work in the fall of 2019. Eight surveys were conducted at Site 300 from April 2019 to July 2019. Although no nesting Swainson’s Hawks were observed during any of the surveys, LLNL wildlife biologists reported several incidental Swainson’s Hawk observations within the survey area in the spring of 2019 (Lisa Paterson, personal communication, 2019).