(Kuchel 1777). The surveys completed in this report were for 

 Western populations of harlequins that occur along the west 

 coast . 



The harlequin duck is one of the most beautiful species of 

 waterfowl. The males are colored a glossy slate-blue with 

 chestnut sides and flanks. A white crescent and white spots 

 occur on its head. Females are a dusky color with three white 

 spots on their head (Bellrose, 1980). The harlequin, which is a 

 shy, sensitive sea duck, makes a yearly spring migration inland 

 to high, fast flowing mountain streams to breed and rear young. 

 Mating and pairing of adult males and females is done both prior 

 to and after migrating inland. They migrate to the remote 

 sections of streams, where they are very rarely seen. 



In order to discover harlequin population distributions 

 during the spring and summer, stream surveys were conducted to 

 locate males, females, and later hens with broods and obtain 

 information on the stream habitat and vegetative components the 

 harlequins seek for rearing the young. The data gathered from 

 these surveys will help develop a better understanding for 

 management of harlequin ducks and the stream areas they utilize. 

 SURVEY AREA 



I surveyed streams located in the Gallatin National Forest 

 and a portion of the Custer National Forest. Figure 1 presents a 

 map of the streams surveyed. They are located in four ranger 

 districts of the Gallatin and the Stillwater, West Rosebud, and 

 tributaries in the Custer National Forest. The four ranger 

 districts are the Big Timber, Livingston, Bozeman, and Gardiner. 



