HABITAT ANALYSIS 



Habitat analysis consisted of a site description of the area around each 

 owl response site. Macro-habitat parameters recorded at each site were: 

 elevation, aspect, slope percent, distance to nearest opening (clearcut, 

 meadow, or park >1 acre) , distance to water, distance to nearest disturbance 

 source (e.g. road, highway, recreation area). Micro-habitat parameters 

 recorded included forest type, number of canopy levels, percent canopy closure, 

 number of snags per acre, basal area of dominant tree species, age, mean 

 diameter at breast height (DBH) , and mean height of dominant tree species. 



In an attempt to compensate for possible owl location error, a second 

 adjacent stand was chosen at each site in a direct line with the listening 

 point from the primary location for identical analysis. Though this method did 

 not increase the accuracy of the habitat analysis, it did serve to broaden the 

 potential habitat types in which owls may have been calling. In subsequent 

 survey years, attempts should be made to locate singing males to precise 

 stands, thereby increasing the validity of the data. 



Calculations of basal area, number of snags per acre, and percent canopy 

 closure were based on estimates concurrent with standard U.S.F.S. stand 

 examination procedures. 



Median value and range for each habitat parameter were calculated for 

 primary, secondary, and total stands analyzed. 



RESULTS 



Thirty surveys were conducted during the period, covering 272 miles. 

 Approximately 51 miles were covered on the Sula District, 97 on the Wisdom 

 District, and 124 on the Wise River District (Table lj. 



