sparrow were listed by Flath (1979b) as species of special 

 interest or concern. The ferruginous hawk, golden eagle, 

 bald eagle, prairie falcon and burrowing owl are also 

 listed as migratory birds of high federal interest (U. S.D.I. 

 1979). All were suspected or known breeders in the study 

 area except bald eagles. 



Two breeding bird census strips were located on the Hanging 

 Woman Creek study area, one each in grassland (without 

 sagebrush) and sagebrush habitats (Figure 31). Ponderosa 

 pine-juniper and riparian habitats were not sampled on the 

 Hanging Woman Creek study area. These habitats probably 

 supported most of the same species as found in similar 

 habitat on the Otter Creek study area. Tables 42 and 43 

 list the percent composition and average number of birds 

 observed per census run for each of the bird species found 

 on the two breeding bird census trips. The average number 

 and highest number of singing males observed on each strip 

 are also listed, along with breeding pair density estimates 

 derived from them. 



The majority of the birds seen on the grassland census strip 

 were western meadowlarks. Brewer's sparrows, vesper sparrows 

 and western meadowlarks in nearly equal proportions dominated 

 the sagebrush census strip. The sagebrush census strip 

 supported fewer species, but a higher breeding pair density 

 than the grassland census strip. 



Raptors 



Nine species of hawks and two species of owls were found on 

 the Hanging Woman Creek study area. Short-eared owls were 

 seen within ten miles of the study area. Inconspicuous 

 species such as screech owls and saw-whet owls may have been 

 overlooked. 



Accipiters : One goshawk was observed on the study area on 

 9 May 1980 (Figure 32). It was suspected to have nested in 

 the area. Cooper's hawks were observed on several occasions 

 along pine ridges, where they were probably nesting (Figure 32). 

 One bird acted defensive, but the nest was not found. 



Buteos : Bald eagles were observed along Hanging Woman Creek 

 twice in the early spring (Figure 32). They were both migrants. 

 Ferruginous hawks were seen several times at the southern end of 

 the study area in 1979 (Figure 32). They were suspected to be 

 nesting in or near the study area. 



Red-tailed hawks were the most common buteo. Seven nests were 

 active in 1979 and five nests were active in 1980 (Figure 33),, 

 Eight nests were located in cottonwood trees and two were in 

 ponderosa pine trees (Table 44). 



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