METHODS 

 Harlequin duck breeding habitat in Idaho has been identified by 

 Wallen and Groves (1989) as low gradient mountain streams greater 

 than 10 meters wide with dense riparian vegetation and adequate 

 water quality to support a healthy invertebrate population. 

 Streams to be surveyed for harlequin ducks on the Flathead 

 National Forest were selected following field evaluations during 

 this survey based on these criteria. Conversations with Montana 

 Natural Heritage Program staff and Flathead National Forest 

 district biologists concerning past harlequin duck observations 

 and streams thought to be potential harlequin duck habitat also 

 contributed to stream selection. Surveys were limited to non 

 wilderness areas on the Flathead National Forest. 



Initial surveys to locate pairs of harlequin ducks were 

 conducted from 6 May through 27 June by walking upstream 

 alongside the stream banks. I was unable to walk in the streams 

 due to high water levels caused by spring runoff. Surveys to 

 located harlequin hens and broods were run from mid-July through 

 mid-August. I was able to walk up the stream bed during the 

 later surveys due to lower water levels. This greatly increased 

 my chances of seeing harlequins because visibility was not 

 impaired by stream bank vegetation. 



Stream flow data on all streams was collected at the 

 starting point of the survey using methods described by Robins 

 and Crawford (1954). Estimates of vegetation density were 

 made at various points during the survey. A composite vegetation 



