RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 



WILDLIFE SPECIES PARAMETERS 



Tabular Summary 



Two-hundred and nine species of vertebrates have been observed in the study 

 areas since the studies began in 1976 (5 amphibians. 7 reptiles, 169 birds, and 

 28 mammals). Data on these vertebrates are summarized in Tables 1 and 2. Any 

 additions or changes to the data base resulting from the third year's monitoring 

 study are printed in italics. The types of data included and the abbreviations 

 used in these tables are as follows: 



Habitat in Which Observed . Abbreviations correspond to habitat categories 

 defined in Appendix B. The major habitats in which animals were observed during 

 this study are listed in approximate order of decreasing use or indicated 

 preference. Habitats merely crossed by birds in flight or transient mammals are 

 not listed. "Various" indicates use of many different habitats without a clear 

 preference. 



Distribution . Numbers correspond to the three study areas described in the 

 text: 1 indicates the Permit Area; 2, the Mine Study Area (excluding the Permit 

 Area); and 3, the Reconnaissance Study Area (excluding the Mine Study Area). A 

 number in this column indicates a sighting in the corresponding study area. 



Classification . In its 1973 Red Book , the U.S. D.I. Bureau of Sport 

 Fisheries and Wildlife identified certain species of animals as endangered (E), 

 threatened (Tj , or status-undetermined (U) . Although the classifications 

 reported in the Red Book have been supplanted by the Endangered Species Act of 

 1973, they still provide a good index of vulnerability to extinction and are 

 listed here. In addition, the Montana Department of Fish and Game (1977), now 

 the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (DFWP) , has classified wildlife 

 species as game species (G) , nongame species (N) , furbearers (F) , and migratory 

 game birds (Mj , and the National Audubon Society has listed in its "Blue List" 

 (Tate 1981) certain species of birds that are experiencing regionwide or 

 continentwide noncyclic population declines (B) . Classifications under each 

 system are indicated by the appropriate letter abbreviations. 



Evidence . Acceptable evidence for including a species in this table, in 

 order of decreasing reliability, is as follows: S indicates specimen(s) taken 

 (number of specimens, or "P" if partial specimen, is given in parentheses); P, 

 photograph taken; V, visual (sight) record; A, auditory (sound; record; B, 

 reported by biologist(s) other than those directly involved in this study; R, 

 reported by local residents. Only the most reliable evidence is listed in the 

 table. 



Guild (Birds Only) . Breeding-season guilds (or nonbreeding-season guilds 

 for winter residents and migrants) are indicated by a four-digit code. The 

 first digit indicates major food source or feeding habits: 1 indicates seeds 

 and vegetation ( 75?o of diet); 2, invertebrates; 3, omnivorous (25-75?o plant 

 material); 4, vertebrates; 5, carrion. The second digit indicates foraging 

 stratum: 1 indicates bark or bole; 2, ground, grass, and low shrubs; 3, tall 

 shrubs or low forest canopy; 4, mid-to-high forest canopy or tall trees; 5, air; 

 6, water. The third digit indicates foraging strategy: 1 indicates bark or 

 bole drilling; 2, bark or bole gleaning; 3, ground and brush foraging; 4, tree 



