186 



In the northwestern part of the study area; 2) the northeastern 

 corner of the study area. Just south of Cook Creek. All the 

 observations were in spring or summer. 



Sharp-tailed Grouse 



Nine sharp-tailed grouse dancing grounds were located in or near 

 the study area (Figure 89). Attendance by male birds at known 

 grounds averaged 11.5 in 1980 and 9.2 in 1981 (Table 101). 

 Comparisons between the two years on the two grounds located in 

 1980 indicates a decrease. This is consistant with the trend in 

 the southeastern part of the state (Knapp et al. 198I). 



There are aoproximately O.I8 grounds per square mile in the study 

 area. This compares with 0.09 grounds per square mile in the 

 Sarpy Creek drainage (Martin 1980a), 0.12 grounds per square mile 

 in the Colstrip area (Schwarzkoph 198O) and 0.22 grounds per 

 square mile In the Otter Creek area (Martin 1980b). However, the 

 average attendance was much higher on grounds in the Otter Creek 

 area (17.8 in 198O). No broods were observed in the study area. 



Table 101. Sharp-tailed grouse dancing grounds in the Birney study 



area and number of males attending in I98O and 198I. V 



Ring-necked pheas 

 ends of Bull, Whi 

 was run along the 

 were along the co 

 the Birney study 

 1980 and 5.4 per 

 due to foggy weat 

 16 eggs was found 

 river bottom bird 



ants occur along the Tongue River and the lower 

 tten and Zook Creeks. A pheasant crow count 



Tongue River south of Birney. Stops 1-6 

 unty road on the opposite side of the river from 

 area. Crow counts averaged 2.1 per stop in 

 stop in 1981. The low count In I98O was probably 

 her during the two days of census. A nest with 

 in deciduous tree and shrub cover along the 

 census trip in 1981 (Figure 91). The nest was 



c 



