266 



Ring-necked Pheasant 



Ring-necked pheasants were found In areas with sufficient riparian 

 cover along the Tongue River. The only major area of cover Is 

 at the southern end of the reservoir. Pheasant use of this 

 area Is probably limited by periodic flooding 



Turkey 



Several groups of turkeys were observed on or near the study area 

 (Figure 118). A brood with 2 hens and 8 young were seen In 198O. 

 Three other large groups were seen too late In the summer to 

 distinguish young (from an airplane). Males were seen displaying 

 with hens twice. Turkeys have been known to winter In ranch 

 yards along the Tongue River In severe winters. 



Sage Grouse 



A sage grouse strutting ground was located on Monument Creek 

 about 2 miles outside the study area. Five males and four or 

 five females were observed on the ground on April 7, 1981. Sage 

 grouse were observed In the study area twice, along the west 

 shore of the reservoir between Monument and Spring creeks. 



Waterfowl 



Twenty species of waterfowl were observed on the study area 

 (Table 15^). Three of these were known or suspected breeders. 

 The Tongue River Reservoir and the river downstream in the Tongue 

 River Dam area were both used extensively by migrating waterfowl. 

 Mallards, northern shovelers, Canada geese, common mergansers, 

 blue-winged teal, and green-winged teal were especially common 

 during migration. One species, the canvasback, is a species of 

 high federal interest. 



Non-game Birds 



One hundred and twenty-four species of birds, including game 

 birds, were observed on the study area (Table 15^). Of these, 

 81 species were suspected or confirmed breeders. Several 

 other species were found by Mlkol (1978) a few miles southwest 

 of my study area. 



The songbird census road route (Figure 119) was run three times 

 in 1980, but only once in 198I due to bad weather, so the 

 results were combined. Vegetation along the route was 6^% sage- 

 grassland, 205? ponderosa pine and Juniper, 15/K riparian, and 

 1% agricultural. A total of 650 birds and 43 species were 

 observed (Table 155). Western meadowlarks, red-winged blackbirds, 

 lark sparrows, and chipping sparrows were the four most common 

 birds, together making up ^3% of the birds seen. They were also 

 observed the most frequently. 



