241 



Bald eagle - Bald eagles were observed as migrants and 

 wintering along the Tongue River (Figure 107). One area 

 was particularly favored by eagles. The river in the Kirby 

 study area was not as heavily used as in the Birney study area. 



Osprey - One migrant osprey was observed Just off the study 

 area on the Tongue River. Several others, along with other 

 bald eagles were observed on the stretch of river between 

 the Birney and Kirby study areas. This stretch of river 

 (mostly off the map in Figure 107) appeared to be another 

 high use area or perhaps an extension of the one on the Birney 

 area. 



Prairie falcon - Two confirmed and one suspected prairie 

 falcon nests were located. One nest fledged one young in 

 1980 and another fledged 4 young in 198I. Pair number 15 

 was present on the cliff both years during the breeding 

 season, but did not appear to have nested. The pair was 

 flushed from the cliff with the helicopter in late April 

 1981. A falcon was heard calling from a pothole on the 

 cliff a week later, but no young were ever observed. One 

 or both of these birds may have been too young to breed, or 

 the nest may have failed due to interference from a pair of 

 great-horned owls nesting on the same cliff. 



Merlin - Several migrant merlins were observed, mainly along 

 the Tongue River. The merlin sighting north of the studv area 

 may have been of a nesting bird. There is a possibility that 

 merlins might nest in the northwestern corner of the study 

 area. The area could not be covered on foot in 198O, and no 

 merlins were found in other parts of southeastern Montana 

 (Youmans 198I, Becker I98I). 



Saw-whet owl - A pair of saw-whet owls were heard calling on 

 the North Fork of Canyon Creek in 198I. They were probably 

 nesting there. They may be common in riparian habitat, but 

 their secretive nature makes detection difficult. 



Other special interest species - The Brewer's sparrow was also 

 listed by Flath (1981) as a species of special interest or 

 concern. They were common in sagebrush habitat throughout 

 the study area. Upland sandpipers, another special interest 

 species, were suspected to breed in the western part of the 

 study area. Local landowners reported seeing them in past 

 years on Dale Creek, ,1ust off the northwest corner of the 

 study area. The pair was not observed in I981 by myself or 

 the landowners. 



In the past, there were extensive prairie dog towns covering 

 the high ridges in the western part of the study area. They 

 were probably also present along wide creek bottoms in 

 the eastern part. Local landowners recalled seeing burrowing 

 owls frequently on the prairie dog towns. No prairie dog 

 towns exist in the study area today, and burrowing owls are no 

 longer present. 



