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water that is typically more than 3 feet deep and with a deep organic substrate but will also use both warm and cold-water streams and rivers where they can avoid freezing. Blanding's turtles generally breed in spring, late summer or fall. Nesting occurs from about mid-May through early July depending on spring temperatures. They strongly prefer to nest in sandy soils and may travel up to 900 feet from a wetland or waterbody to find suitable soils. This species appears to display nest site fidelity, returning to its natal site and then nesting in a similar location annually. Hatching occurs from early August through mid-October. This species takes 17 to 20 years or more to reach maturity. See the species guidance document for avoidance measures and management guidance from the Natural Heritage Conservation Program. For additional information on the rare species, high-quality natural communities, and other endangered resources listed above,please visit our Biodiversitv page. Section C. Follow-up actions If your project changes(e.g., a change in location, size, design, disturbance footprint and timing, or construction sequence),please call the ER Review Program to confirm if these results are still valid. Actions that need to be taken to comply with state and/or federal endangered species laws: • None. Actions recommended to help conserve Wisconsin's rare species and high-quality natural communities: • The construction of large, guyed telecommunication and broadcasting towers creates a significant impact on migratory birds,which are protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It is clear from existing tower mortality data from Wisconsin that such towers have caused substantial and chronic mortality and may be limiting populations. Research indicates that the following factors influence bird mortality: • Tower height: Avian mortality has been shown to increase with tower height, mainly because of the increased lighting and guy wires required by taller towers. Towers that fall within the normal zone of nocturnal bird migration due to their structural height and/or placement on elevated topography are believed to cause the greatest mortality. Avian mortality increases with tower height over 200 feet. This tower is 488 feet and will pose a higher risk. • Guy wires: Most bird mortality at guyed towers occurs when the birds collide with the guy wires and not the tower itself. The studies that have compared guyed to freestanding towers have shown dramatically higher rates of mortality at guyed towers. This tower does require guy wires and as a result represents a very high risk. • Lighting: Nocturnal migrants aggregate at lights when they have become disoriented or"trapped" by the lights after entering their zone of influence.This zone increases when fog is present in the air to reflect the light, and when inclement weather or topographic factors force migrating birds to fly at lower altitudes. The lighting scheme at towers is probably the single most important factor contributing to bird kills at towers that we can control. It is our understanding that towers under 200 feet are not required to have lighting, and this is the best scenario for avoiding impacts to nocturnal migrants. When lighting is required, duration of lighting is critical as solid state lighting attracts and eventually leads to deaths of many more birds. It's important to install flashing or strobe lighting with complete breaks between flashes in order to reduce the mortality risk. To reduce the risk of towers to migratory birds, all newly constructed towers should conform to the USFWS Guidelines on Communications Tower Siting, Construction, Operation and Decommissioning (http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/CurrentBirdlssues/Hazards/towers/comtow.html). If the site or tower design will present any of the high risk factors identified above please contact the ER Review Program at 608-264-6057 who will help you work with DNR bird experts to reduce high risk factors. ER Review Log# 13-881 Page 3