Eastern Segment 



Bald eagles are primarily observed during their fall and 

 spring migrations when numerous eagles use the Missouri River. 

 No other rare or endangered species of birds have been seen in 

 the study area. 



Golden eagles ( Aquila chrysaetos ) are common year-round and 

 widespread throughout the study area. Many different hawks, owls, 

 songbirds and other birds are observed in the study area. The 

 different species of birds, seasons present and evidence of 

 breeding in the study area can be found in P. D. Skaar (1975). 



Special reference should be made to the mourning dove 

 ( Zenaida macroura ) which has songbird status in Montana and 

 game bird status in many other states. Doves are plentiful 

 in the study area during the breeding season, and remain until 

 cold weather forces them south. Doves are outstanding game 

 birds and also provide excellent eating. The Montana State 

 Legislature should make the mourning dove a game bird, thus 

 allowing Montanans to hunt and harvest birds which are now 

 being harvested by other states. 



Land use practices such as overgrazing, brush eradication 

 and indiscriminate use of insecticides and herbicides are detri- 

 mental, in varying degrees, to all birds. Although no data 

 were gathered to substantiate these impacts on birds in the 

 study area, it is probable that these practices are adversely 

 affecting these bird populations. 



POTENTIAL AND EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS 



Western Segment 



Grazing 



Livestock grazing is a major land use practice that can im- 

 pact mule deer, antelope and upland game bird breaks habitat. 

 The impact of grazing varies from one end of the study area to 

 the other. With changing agricultural economics, many landowners 

 in the western half of the study area have gone out of the live- 

 stock production business and are now totally into small grain 

 production. This is particularly true from Morony Dam to Fort 

 Benton. From Fort Benton to Virgelle, livestock become more 

 noticeable, but are still limited. Below Virgelle to the PN 

 ferry, the breaks habitat extends back from the river and 

 larger livestock operations occur. One of the major impacts is 

 the concentration of cattle in riparian areas during the summer. 

 Below Virgelle, these riparian areas are usually severely trampled 

 and typically devoid of understory and cottonwood regeneration. 

 Where these areas occur on public lands, efforts should be made 

 to establish suitable management practices to protect and en- 

 hance this critical wildlife habitat. 



