Osprey . Osprey were frequently observed in the Falls area in the 

 summer and fall and were usually seen fishing in the stretch of river 

 between the Falls and the transmission line crossing (section M, Figure 4). 

 This area is fairly shallow, offering easy fishing. On two occasions, 

 successful fishing bouts were witnessed in which the Ospreys caught 

 fairly large mountain whitefish, then flew off upstream and out of sight 

 into drainages on the south side of the river. The Osprey appear to use 

 the river and Falls area as a preferred feeding area. The Kootenai 

 River supports a healthy, and apparently stable or growing, breeding 

 osprey population (Craighead and Craighead 1979). The nearest known nest 

 site is located near Throops Lake, area code 25 (Kichura and Ruediger 1978-, 

 Meyer 1979), Although no nests were located in the Falls area, it is 

 believed that one pair nested up Williams Creek (area code 21-22), and 

 another pair might have nested on or near Lynx Flats (1). A pair was 

 reportedly observed going through the motions of building a nest above 

 the highway retaining wall midway down the gorge (22), but since the 

 activity occurred in mid-June and was not completed, it is likely this 

 pair was either immature or was engaging in an unsuccessful renesting 

 attempt. 



American Kestrel . The nest of an American kestrel was located in 

 an abandoned woodpecker hole in a cottonwood snag immediately upriver 

 from the Falls (21). The nesting kestrel and a nesting common flicker 

 in an adjacent snag were observed harassing each other on several occa- 

 sions. Success of the kestrel nest was not determined. 



Dipper . Dippers were present in the Falls area throughout the 

 study period. They were observed feeding in fast water on the Falls in 

 the winter, when tributary streams are frozen or snowbound. They were 

 also observed feeding in rapids on rocks upstream from the Falls. 

 Kootenai Falls provides suitable habitat for nesting (Bakus 1959), 

 although fluctuating water levels probably make nesting hazardous. No 

 nests were located during this study. Many small streams feed into the 

 river on the north and south shore, providing additional habitat for 

 Dippers. Table 5 presents census data for Dippers; the greatest number 

 seen on a single day in 1979 was nine on August 1, when newly fledged 

 young were abundant. Dippers appeared to be concentrated near the Falls 

 during all seasons, probably because of increased food density. Worthy 

 of special note is the Dipper population which winters at the Falls. On 

 one occasion 11 Dippers were observed feeding in the rushing water. The. 

 average number of Dippers observed during 11 winter trips to the Falls 

 (sections J, K, L, and the downstream third of M) was 6.25. Dippers 

 move to lower elevations to find fast water during winter; they do not 

 undertake long-distance migrations. Because of this, the few available 

 stretches of free-flowing white water become critical wintering areas. 

 Kootenai Falls constitutes such an area. 



Species Accounts -- Mammals 



A summary of inventory data for mammal species for which additional 

 data were obtained is presented below. 



51 



