232 



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Table 129. Continued 



Breeding 

 Species Status 



101 Vesper sparrow b 



102 Lark sparrow b 



103 Dark-eyed J unco b 

 lOiJ Tree sparrow W 



105 Chippinc; sparrow b 



106 Brewer's sparrow b 



107 Sonp; sparrow b 



* B - confirmed breeding (nest or dependent young observed) 



b - suspected breeding (present during breeding season) 



V - visitor (breeds nearby, but not on the study area) 



t - present, but no evidence of breeding 



W - winter resident and migrant only 



M - migrant only 



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of 6l8 birds and ^7 species were observed (Table 130). Western 



meadowlarks, chipping sparrows, yellow warblers, and house wrens 



were the most common species, together making up ^0% of the total number 



of birds counted. They were also counted more frequently than 



other species of birds. 



The walking strips (Figure 105) were only run once each due to bad 

 weather, so the results should only be used for general comparisons 

 between habitats. Creek bottom riparian habitat, composed mainly 

 of boxelder-ash forest, was by far the most diverse and productive 

 area for songbirds (Table 131). It was as productive as river 

 bottom riparian habitat on the Birney study area (Table 10^). The 

 deciduous tree cover, unlike that on the intermittent creek strip 

 on the Birnev area, was thick and continuous along the entire 

 census strio. The narrow riparian zone was bordered bv open silver 

 sagebrush habitat along most of the strip, favoring edge species. 

 Running water was present in the creek throughout the summer, 

 however, intermittent creeks that are usually dry can also 

 support high densities of songbirds (See Otter Creek area in 

 Martin 1980a). The quality and quantity of cover is more Important 

 than the presence or absence of water in determining songbird 

 oroductlvlty. 



The ponderosa pine census strip, located in the western part of 

 the study area (Figure 105) was more diverse and productive than 

 the ponderosa pine strip on the Birney study area, probably because 

 it was located in more mesic ponderosa pine forest with a deciduous 

 shrub understory (Table 132). The more xeric ponderosa pine in 

 the eastern half of the Kirby area is probably very similar in 

 oroductivity to the Birney strip (Table 106). The ponderosa pine 



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