159 



Activity : Antelope activity at time of observation is presented 

 in Table 8l. Small sample sizes durinp; some seasons limit the 

 usefulness of seasonal comparisons. 



Use of topography ; Most observations were obtained on alluvium/ 

 terrace features during; all seasons (Table 82). Use of dissected 

 mid-slopes was highest in spring of 1980. 



Use of exposure and slope: The greatest proportion of antelope 

 observations were made on flat terrain during all seasons (Tables 

 83 and 84). 



Birds 



Seventy-eight species of birds were observed on the Sand Creek 

 study area during the study period (Table 85). Resident breeding 

 was documented for forty species. The Cooper's hawk, ferruginous 

 hawk, golden eagle, prairie falcon, merlin, long-billed curlew, 

 upland sandpiper, long-eared owl and field sparrow are all listed 

 by Flath (198I) as species of special concern in Montana. The 

 ferruginous hawk, golden eagle, prairie falcon and long-billed 

 curlew are also listed as migratory birds of high federal interest 

 in the Powder River coal region (U.S. D.I. 1979). 



Sharp-tailed grouse: Sharp-tailed grouse were abundant in the Sand 

 Creek vicinity. Ten sharo-tailed grouse arenas were located 

 within the study area (Figure 80). Attendance by displaying males 

 averaged l4.9 in 1980 and 12.8 in 198I, on arenas for which two 

 years of data were obtained (Table 86). The drop in attendance 

 between years is insignificant compared with the 50% decline 

 noted on the Foster Creek study area. A significant drop in male 

 attendance was documented on sharp-tail arenas throughout south- 

 eastern Montana in I981 (Knapp et al. 1981). Poor nesting success 

 and/or brood survival in I98O was a result of prevailing drought 

 conditions. 



An additional arena was found in spring 198I and an arena which had 

 been used the previous year (#1) appeared to be abandoned in 198I. 



Sage grouse : Although no sage grouse arenas were found on the 

 study area, 43 individuals were observed during the summers of 

 1980 and 81. They were sighted in sagebrush habitats and cut 

 hayfields. 



Other upland game birds : One hundred seventy-nine turkeys were 

 observed on the study area during the study period. Most 

 sightings occurred in ponderosa pine habitats of the northwest 

 corner section, in groups as large as 30 birds. Other observations 

 were obtained along the west boundary of the study area. 



Ring-necked pheasants were fairly common on the area. Gray partridge 

 also occur but were seen infrequently. 



Waterfowl : Waterfowl habitat on the Sand Creek study area is 

 very limited. The few stock ponds on the area are small and were 

 mostly dry 198O-8I. Successful breeding was documented for only 

 mallard and gadwalls during the study period. 



