Substantial waterfowl reproduction occurs on the study area; 

 therefore waterfowl management should ensure that the best avail- 

 able conditions exist for nesting and brood rearing. It appears 

 that the primary problem that affects waterfowl nesting and brood 

 rearing is livestock overgrazing of vegetation adjacent to water. 

 Some nesting sites are on private lands; however, many reservoirs, 

 much of the Missouri River shoreline and most of the islands in 

 the Missouri River are public lands managed by the Bureau of Land 

 Management. The BLM should manage these riparian lands in a 

 manner beneficial to waterfowl. Major emphasis should be placed 

 upon the Missouri River's islands, which are the major nesting 

 sites for numerous Canada geese. Valuable Canada goose and duck 

 nesting habitat could be destroyed on the Missouri River if a dam 

 is ever constructed on the river. The BLM should take a strong 

 stand against dam building along this reach of the Missouri River. 



Other Birds 



Western Segment 



In the middle Missouri River project area, Skaar (1975) 

 identifies 260 species of birds in latilongs 17, 18 and 19. 

 Varying amounts of information exist for these species. Many are 

 known to breed within the area and others are seasonal migrants. 

 Upland game birds account for 10 of these species, with water- 

 fowl representing 29 species. Nongame species account for the 

 majority, with 221 species. 



White Pelicans 



A species making seasonal use of the Missouri River is the 

 white pelican ( Pelecanus erythrorhynchos ) . These birds are 

 found along the river from Morony Dam to Robinson Bridge during 

 late spring and summer. An aerial survey in June of 1979 found 

 113 birds on the Missouri (Table 45). Usually found in flocks 

 of 10 to 20 birds, they congregate near the mouths of tributary 

 streams where they are typically found feeding. Preferred loca- 

 tions appear to be the mouth of Highwood Creek, Belt Creek, 

 Marias River, Judith River and Arrow Creek. A majority of the 

 birds observed have been males (approx. 90%). A breeding popu- 

 lation exists at the Bowdoin Waterfowl Refuge near Malta and the 

 birds on the Missouri River may be nonbreeding males from this 

 population . 



Great Blue Herons 



Four great blue heron ( Ardea herodius ) rookeries have been 

 located on the Missouri River from Morony Dam to the Judith River. 

 Table 46 presents the location of these rookeries and the number of 

 nest structures observed. Rookery number 4 is at the mouth of 

 the Judith River and the remainder are between Fort Benton and 

 Loma. The first rookery is located on an island, with the others 

 along the bank. Waterfowl surveys in June have found the adult 

 birds distributed along the entire reach of the Missouri from 

 Morony Dam to Robinson Bridge. 



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