Summary 



This survey of harlequin ducks was conducted in the non- 

 wilderness portion of the Flathead Basin on Flathead National Forest 

 Lands and Stillwater State Forest Lands. Stream surveys began on 15 

 July 1991 and ended on the 31 August 1991. Physical characteristics 

 of each stream were evaluated qualitatively. Discharge 

 measurements were provided by Wally Page, hydrologist for the 

 Flathead National Forest. One breeding pair of harlequin ducks was 

 observed during this survey. Unusually late spring run-off causing 

 inundation of nest sites and drowning chicks may be the reason for 

 the lack of breeding success. 



One harlequin hen was found on the Stillwater State Forest. Five 

 single female harlequins and 1 female with a brood of four young were 

 found in the Glacier View Ranger District. Two Harlequin hens were 

 observed in the non-wilderness portion of the Spotted Bear Ranger 

 District. No harlequins were observed in the Hungry Horse Ranger 

 District. I received reports of pairs along the North Fork of the 

 Flathead River in the Glacier View Ranger District in April and May by 

 several individuals. One hen with a brood of three young was reported 

 on the North Fork of the Flathead River in the Glacier View Ranger 

 District. One individual reported two separate sightings at different 

 locations on the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. One of these 

 sightings was a hen with a brood of three young between Moccassin 

 Creek and West Glacier and the other was a hen with a brood of five 

 young in the wilderness portion of the Middle Fork. A table of stream 

 characteristics is included in the appendix. Those streams meeting 

 harlequin habitat criteria worthy of future surveys are highlighted. 



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