Science in Practice Portal

In 2006, the BLM entered into an assistance agreement (JSA065003) with HawkWatch International, Inc. to conduct a two-phase “Raptor Radii Research Project.” The underlying goal of this research was to assess existing protective spatial and temporal buffers and provide guidance to minimize potential disturbance to nesting raptors exposed to oil and gas (OG) development activities. Phase I of the project was intended to be a retrospective evaluation of past raptor nesting activity in relation to concurrent OG development activity on lands managed primarily by the Price, Utah, and Rawlins, Wyoming, Field Offices of the BLM. Phase II was intended to be a two-year field study designed to experimentally test raptor nest-disturbance thresholds in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming study areas selected based on current and expected OG development activities and available raptor nesting data. This report provides the results of the Phase I portion of the Raptor Radii Research Project.