NEEDLE-AND-THREAD--BLUE GRAMA GRASSLAND— Location: Montana; McCone County; 

 borders center of E boundary of Sec. 25, T20N, R44E; 47° 27' N, 106° 2' W; 

 AMS, Jordan (NL 13-1). Continuity: Established 1977; 2 consecutive years. 

 Size: 25 ha = 61.8 acres (square, surveyed). Description of Plot: See AB 

 32:109. Coverage: May 20, 21, 25, 27; June 15, 17, 18, 21; 8 trips, 0445- 

 2045. Total man-hours: 14.6. Census: Horned Lark, 12 (48, 19); Chestnut- 

 collared Longspur, 10 (40, 16); Lark Bunting, 6.5 (26, 11); Western Meadowlark, 

 5.5 (22, 9); Grasshopper Sparrow, 3 (12, 5); Prairie Falcon, +. Total: 

 6 species, 37 territorial males or females i^^8/knr, 60/100 acres). Visitors: 

 Marsh Hawk, Killdeer. Remarks: A Horned Lark nest (4 young) and a Chestnut- 

 collared Longspur nest (5 eggs) were located on the plot. Grassland develop- 

 ment on the plot was so lush the plot was scarcely recognizable from its 

 condition during the summer of 1977. Needle-and-thread ( Stipa comata ) was 

 particularly vigorous, attaining a height of nearly 1 m. Prairie Rattle- 

 snakes and a Striped Skunk ( Mephitis mephitis ) were seen on the plot during 

 census runs. 



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