SUMMARY 

 A survey for boreal owls was conducted on the Lewis and Clark 

 National Forest in the Little Belt Mountains of central Montana 

 during February and March of 1991. The call playback method was 

 used to survey for owls on 19 nights. A total of 13 survey routes 

 were established, encompassing 87 calling points and 70.2 miles. 

 Some routes were surveyed more than once for a total of 88.5 miles. 

 All owl observations were recorded and mapped. Habitat 

 classifications were- obtained from timber typing maps for all 

 boreal owl locations. Boreal owls were heard at 8 calling points, 

 represented 6 individuals. All but one were located in lodgepole 

 pine (Pinus contorta) timber types. The other was in a whitebark 

 pine ( Pinus albicaulis ) timber type. All were located between 6400 

 ft. and 8088 ft. in elevation. Other owl species located, in order 

 of abundance, were northern saw-whet ( Aegolius acadius ) , great 

 horned ( Bubo virginianus ) , barred ( Strix varia ) , great gray ( Strix 

 nebulosa ) , and a western screech owl (Otus kennicottii ) . Surveys 

 are recommended for at least 3 more years in the Little Belt 

 Mountains to accurately determine the population characteristics 

 and habitat used by boreal owls. 



