songs or calls, and the observer generally stood at one point near the vehicle, 

 and listened and scanned. An assistant was necessary to time stops and record 

 data during this period. Upon finishing a 3-minute stop, the observer returned 

 to the vehicle and proceeded quickly to the next stop, where a similar 3-minute 

 count was made. This process was repeated for each of the remaining stops on 

 the route. Approximately 4.0 hr were required to complete each route. On all 

 routes seven power binoculars and a twenty power spotting scope were used to 

 facilitate location and identification of animals. Although odometer readings 

 varied from vehicle to vehicle, landmarks useful in precisely locating each 

 stop were noted, and the observer soon learned to recognize each of the stopping 

 points from month to month. Stops were also plotted on aerial photos at a scale 

 of 1:40,000. Five such routes, named the Circle, Dreyer Ranch, Flowing Well, 

 Missouri, and Prairie Elk routes, were established in the study areas (map 1). 

 The Dreyer Ranch route was run monthly May through July, while the remaining 

 four routes were run monthly throughout 1977 except during November. Two runs 

 of the Circle route were made in June, as discussed below. Starting points on 

 all runs were as shown in map 1 except that the Missouri River route was run 

 west to east in January, and the Dreyer Ranch route was run north to south in 

 May. L. Thompson was the observer during all months except January and December, 

 when the routes were run by J. Wambaugh and B. Blanchard, respectively. 



These five routes were chosen on the basis of yearlong accessibility of 

 roads, variety of habitat, probability of disruption, and location of any pre- 

 viously-run routes in the area. The Dreyer Ranch route traversed the proposed 

 mining area as well as part of the 75 section vegetation study area. It sampled 

 habitats typical of the rolling, coulee-dissected upland grassland and the Nelson 

 Creek floodplain. Unfortunately, the poor quality of roads along this route did 

 not allow the route to be run when the roads were wet or snow-covered. The 

 Flowing Well route, following Highway 24, which is easily accessible year-round, 

 sampled typical badland and big sagebrush-scabland habitats along a road which 

 could become a major transportation corridor should the project be developed. 

 The Missouri River route, sampling the Missouri River floodplain (which includes 

 much cropland and the only riparian cottonwood forests in the study area) and 

 adjacent uplands, was also accessible year-round. Possible sites for the pro- 

 posed conversion facility have been identified near this route. The Prairie Elk 

 route sampled the saline floodplain of Prairie Elk Creek and adjacent uplands, 

 and was accessible most of the year. A spur railroad line running parallel to 

 this route is among the potential access corridors to the proposed mining area. 

 The Circle route sampled primarily agricultural and grassland habitats; it was 

 not accessible during part of the winter, but it was the only route in the area 

 which had been run in the past, as discussed below. 



A BBS route almost identical to the Circle route had been run several times 

 since 1968. (See Appendix E for a summary of data obtained during these runs.) 

 It was hoped that this route could have been followed precisely during the pre- 

 sent study, however, it soon became evident that a portion of this route was 

 impassable most or all months of the year. By making a small change in this 

 portion of the route (as shown in map 1), a route was obtained which followed 

 well-maintained gravel or paved roads over its entire length and, with the_ 

 exception of mid-winter, was passable during every season of the year. This 

 new route differed from the former route only in the locations of eight of the 

 fifty stops. For convenience, the former route will be referred to as Circle 



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