4 

 (Reynolds et al . 1989). Woodpeckers nest in large-diameter dead 

 and/or disease trees which are commonly removed during commercial 

 tree harvests and for firewood. Reductions in woodpecker 

 populations, resulting from snag removal and changes in the 

 structure or composition of stands used for nesting and foraging, 

 may be occurring in intensively managed forests which will 

 dramatically affect these small forest owl species. Concern for 

 the boreal and flammulated owls has led to the listing of these 

 two species as Sensitive Species in Region 1 of the United States 

 Forest Service and as Species of Special Concern in Montana by 

 the Montana Natural Heritage Program. The Forest Service is 

 reguired to monitor their status and maintain population 

 viability on National Forest lands. 



Boreal owls are known to occur in Yellowstone National Park 

 (pers. comm. T. McEneaney) , the Beaverhead and Bitterroot 

 national forests (Mullen 1990) , the Lewis and Clark National 

 Forest (Carlson 1991) , and the Lolo National Forest (Holt and 

 Ermatinger 1989) in Montana. Flammulated owls have been observed 

 in western Montana (pers comm. D. Holt) . The presence of these 

 owls on the Gallatin National Forest is unknown. 



SURVEY AREA 



Survey routes were conducted on the Livingston District of 

 the Gallatin National Forest in southwestern Montana (Figure 1) . 

 The district covers the east half of the Gallatin Mountain Range, 



