PROCEDURES 

 Game Mammals 



Observations were made during low-level flxed-winp; aerial surveys 

 in a super cub aircraft. Aerial surveys were conducted monthly 

 and the data were compiled on a seasonal basis as follows: spring 

 (March-May), summer (June-August), fall (September-November), and 

 winter (December-February). Each studv area was completely 

 covered by flying a grid transect at half-mile intervals, oriented 

 oarallel to the major draina(5;e. Flight times were planned to 

 coincide with feeding periods so that maximum animal numbers 

 could be observed. This biased observations in favor of the 

 more open habitat types. Observations were also recorded during 

 -^vehicular surveys and while walking through the study areas. 

 Access limitations introduced a further observation bias. At 

 each observation the vegetation type, activity, tyoe of terrain, 

 slope, exposure and time of day were recorded (Aopendix Table 1). 

 Pertinent population data were also recorded. Each observation 

 was assigned UTM (Universal Transverse Mercator) grid coordinates 

 to facilitate accurate mapping of animal distribution patterns. 



Game Birds 



The primary emphasis was directed toward locating sharp-tailed 

 grouse dancing grounds and sage grouse strutting grounds. The 

 imoortance of these breeding grounds to these species cannot 

 be understated. Grounds were located by driving, walking and 

 by flying low over likely terrain features and either seeing the 

 birds on their arenas or flushing them into the air. 



Pheasant crow count routes were conducted during the spring 

 breeding season to determine the density of cock pheasants 

 (Kimball 19^9). 



Ponds, sloughs, and creeks were visited regularly to obtain water- 

 fowl observations. 



3ongbirds 



Species composition and relative abundance of songbirds were 

 determined using a roadside windshield technique. A vehicle 

 route 20 to 25 miles in length was established on each study area, 

 with listening stops spaced at approximately one mile intervals. 

 Bird songs heard during a three minute time period were recorded 

 and mapped at each stop. Routes were selected to equally sample 

 representative habitat types on each study area. 



Ten walking census strips similar to those used by Hickey and 

 Mikol (1979) and Martin (1980a) were set up, four on the 

 Birney study area, and three each on the Kirby and Tongue River 

 Dam areas, to determine songbird species composition by habitat 

 type. Songbird use by habitat could not be determined by the 

 road routes on these three study areas, due to the high inter- 



