﻿Harlequin Duck Spec ial Studies 



Information on harlequin ducks observed during the monitoring period is 

 presented in table 7. Harlequin ducks were observed only in May and June of 

 1981. A minimum of 8 ducks (including at least two pairs, 3 possibly 

 unpaired males, and one possibly unpaired female) was known to be present 

 during the study period. During August 1981, searches were made for broods 

 but none were observed. Flows in the river were very high, 20,000 cfs or 

 greater, which might account for the lack of broods in the area. Comparing 

 these data with those obtained in 1980 (DNRC 1981), it appears that use of 

 the falls area by adult harlequins increased considerably in 1981. 



Table 7. Harlequin duck observations in the Kootenai Falls area, 

 September 1980-August 1981. 



Date 



Minimum number known present 



Males 



Females 



Pairs 



Total 



Location 



(River Section) (1) 



May 23, 1981(2) 

 May 31, 1981(2) 

 June 13, 1981(3) 

 June 14, 1981(3) 

 June 15, 1981(3) 

 June 16, 1981(3) 



8 



6 

 U 



5 

 4 

 4 



J,L 

 L 

 L 

 L 



L 

 L 



(1) Abbreviations as defined in Appendix B 



(2) Observations by L. Schelvan (USFS) 



(3) Observations by S. Riser 



Bighorn Sheep Studies 



Locations of bighorn sheep observations recorded during the roadside 

 surveys are shown in figure 4. In October 1980, two groups of sheep were 

 observed on cliffs above the Kilpatrick property. One group consisted of 6 

 lambs and 7 ewes; the other contained 3 ewes. In January 1981, a group of 6 

 ewes was observed at the salt lick on the Sheppard property. Table 8 

 summarizes results of the roadside surveys conducted in April, June, and 

 August, for which different methods than those used for the October and 

 January surveys were employed. In April, at least 40 different sheep were 

 observed. The average number of individual sheep known present during the 

 six April surveys was 26.2; the average number of observations recorded was 

 35.5. In June, only 6 different sheep were observed, and in August, only 3 

 were sighted. This decrease in sheep sightings is thought to be due to (1) 

 decreased observability due to leaf -out and use of dense cover by sheep, and 

 (2) summer movement of sheep to somewhat higher elevations, as indicated by 

 other data obtained during the study period. During April visits to the 

 Sheppard meadows, no known bighorn sheep sign was observed. 



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