similar habitat did not occur along breeding streams in GTNP so 

 Wallen (1987) considered that dense shrubs along the lowest 

 gradient (<1 degree) sections of streams where breeding pairs had 

 been observed was the most likely nesting habitat in that area. 



OBJECTIVES 



Proper management of a wildlife species is dependent on 

 knowledge of the distribution and abundance of that species, 

 along with its habitat needs and behavioral characteristics. 

 Therefore, the objectives of this survey effort were first , to 

 document the distribution and abundance of harlequin ducks on the 

 Gallatin National Forest, and second, to record the habitat 

 characteristics of stream sections used by harlequin ducks and 

 record observations of harlequin duck behavior. 



STUDY AREA AND METHODS 



Harlequin duck surveys were conducted on sections of 12 

 streams on the Gallatin National Forest and two streams on the 

 Custer National Forest (Figure 2) . Streams were selected based on 

 size (>10 m in width) and gradient (<3 degrees) , following the 

 criteria used by Wallen and Groves (1988, 1989) in northern 

 Idaho. 



Surveys were conducted from May to August with most stream 

 sections surveyed at least once during May or June and again 



