MATERIALS AND METHODS 



Breeding Bird Survey 



A survey of the nongame breeding birds on the area was conducted from 4 June 

 1979 to 7 July 1979 and 30 May 1980 to 25 June 1980. Methods employed were 

 similar to those used by Hickey and Mikol (1979). Breeding bird survey belt 

 transects 2000 m long and 100 m wide were established in each major vegetation 

 type (creek, badlands, grasslands, sage-grasslands). Survey lines were as 

 straight as possible with slight modifications in the creek type to stay with- 

 in the habitat. All lines were staked down the center at 50 m intervals and 

 flagged on the outside edges to assist with accurate data recordings. Each 

 line was traversed on 7 separate mornings during the course of the survey. 

 Surveys were conducted between one-half hour before sunrise and 9:00 a.m. on 

 days with calm winds ( < 8 kmph) and no precipitation. Generally two lines 

 could be traversed in one morning during the prescribed time limitations. All 

 birds seen or heard were recorded on prepared data sheets in a manner similar 

 to that recommended by the International Bird Census Committee (1970). 



Species, sex (with special attention to singing males), and location on the 

 transect were recorded for all birds seen or heard. Results of these surveys 

 were summarized and the total number of singing males for each species on 

 each replication was tabulated. An average was then calculated for each species 

 over the seven replications and this figure was used to calculate the density 

 of breeding pairs per 100 ha for each vegetation type. Locations of the breed- 

 ing bird survey lines are presented in Appendix Table 19. 



Wintering Bird Survey 



A wintering bird survey was conducted on the area during 12-16 January 1980 

 and 15-19 February 1980. Each major vegetation type and one subtype was traversed 

 on foot for one full day (sunrise to sunset). Species, numbers, and flock size 

 were recorded for all nongame bird observations. 



Raptors 



Four aerial and numerous ground searches were conducted on the area to locate 

 as many raptor nests as possible. Aerial surveys were conducted during spring 

 before trees became foliated and again in the fall after defoliation. Potential 

 and actual raptor nesting sites, initially located from the air, were subsequently 

 checked on foot. All raptor nest sites thus located were recorded on a map of 

 the study area. Additional time was spent observing as many sites as possible 

 to determine their status (i.e. occupied, number of young, etc.). Other field 

 work precluded detailed observations of fledglings, dispersal areas and so forth. 



Small Mammal Sampling 



Summer small mammal sampling was conducted in July and August using methods 

 similar to those employed by Flath (1979b). Two trap lines, at least 0.5 km 

 apart, were set in each major vegetation type, and one trap line was set in 

 each of the two subtypes. An additional line was set in the head of a grassland 



