RESULTS 



Twenty-three roadside transects were run once during late May-early July 1998 or 1999, 

 counts were made at 227 points. Twenty routes were in Petroleum County and three were 

 located in adjacent Fergus County. Low-stature sagebrush was classified as the dominant cover 

 type at 173 points (76,2% of the total) and was dominant at multiple points on all 23 routes (on 

 only two routes was this dominant at fewer than five points). Mixed grassland/cropland/pasture 

 was dominant at 34 points (15.0% of the total) on 14 routes. Ponderosa pme woodland or 

 savanna was the dominant cover type at 20 points (8.8% of the total) on five routes Each of 

 these cover types was present as subdominant at additional points and influenced the occurrence 

 of some bird species at particular points, this is noted in the route descriptions that follow later in 

 this section of the report. 



Fifly-eight bird species were detected during the counts (Table 1), but only three were 

 detected on > 50% of the points: Western Meadowlark (97.4%), Vesper Sparrow (85.9%), and 

 Lark Bunting (61.2%). Two species considered sagebrush obligates. Brewer's Sparrow and Sage 

 Thrasher, were detected at 27.3% and <1.0% of the points, respectively Sage Thrashers use 

 taller and denser sagebrush, which was rarely present in the count circles, and their very low 

 abundance is a reflection of the scarcity of suitable habitat. Brewer's Sparrow was probably 

 underrepresented because of the number of point counts conducted in early July, by which time 

 this species was much less vocal At some points where Brewer's Sparrow was not detected 

 during the count, individuals appeared in response to "spishing" after the count was completed 

 Species tied to larger expanses of shrub-free grasslands were detected at relatively few points 

 Upland Sandpiper (9.3%), Long-billed Curlew (< 1.0%), Short-eared Owl (< 1.0%), Savannah 

 Sparrow (4 4°/o). and Grasshopper Sparrow (9 7%) Of this group. Upland Sandpiper appeared to 

 use low density sagebrush with intermixed grassland more than the other species. Two regional 

 endemics, Sprague's Pipit and Baird's Sparrow, were detected each on <1.0% of the points (one 

 point each on the Blakeslee route). Brown-headed Cowbird was detected at 13.2% of the points 

 (16 routes), often in association with cattle or pasture. 



Species most closely associated with ponderosa pine or riparian woodland included 

 American Kestrel, Common Nighthawk, Northern Flicker, Western Wood-Pewee, Dusky 

 Flycatcher, Pinyon Jay, Black-billed Magpie, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, 

 House Wren, Mountain Bluebird, American Robin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Spotted Towhee, 

 Chipping Sparrow, Lark Sparrow, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin, and American Goldfinch These 

 represent almost 33% of the total number of bird species detected during the counts even though 

 the areal extent of the primary habitats that support them comprise only a minor fraction of the 

 total in the study area. 



Some species present in the study area were overlooked, and will require special survey 

 techniques to detect, either focusing on specific habitats or time periods. This is especially true 

 of wetland and nocturnal species (waterfowl, shorebirds, owls, goatsuckers) For example, a 

 Sora nest with 9 eggs was found on 3 July 1998 in emergent vegetation at the stock reservoir 

 (T16NR26ES13SWSE) adjacent to stop 10 of the Valentine-Dovetail Road route. This species 

 was never recorded during the point counts, even though small stock ponds are present in many 

 places in the study area Also, Common Poorwill was detected every evening the campsite in the 

 acid shale pine woodlands was occupied (see Appendix 1), but was never detected during the 

 point counts in other pine woodland sites. 



