KILBUCK AND AHKLUN MOUNTAIN BIRDS 



95 



pairs per square kilometer in disturbed riparian census plots and none in 

 undisturbed plots. M. Brown et al. (unpublished) found alder flycatchers 

 at the Kwethluk River on 23-27 July 1985. White and Boyce (1978) heard 

 an Empidonax at the Kanektok River in June 1977. We saw several alder 

 flycatchers on the lower Salmon and Aniak rivers from 25 July to 1 August 

 1986. 



Say's phoebe (Sayomis sayd). VRsr, VRv. 



Phoebes nested in the Kilbuck Mountains and were seen at other 

 locations. We saw birds at the Salmon River, and J. Bloomquist (personal 

 communication) showed us old nests there at two locations. At the 

 Tuluksak River, we saw one bird on 9 June and heard one on 3 other days 

 in 1962. A nest found there on 5 July 1976 (adult on nest; DNW photo) 

 contained five recently hatched young that were gone by 2 1 July; another 

 nest found on 1 2 July 1 987 contained mostly feathered young that fledged 

 before 21 July. Of the five Salmon and Tuluksak river nests, three were 

 on beams about 3 m above the ground in open buildings, one was under 

 the eaves of a building, and one was about 3 m above water on a riparian 

 cliff. Mindell (1983) reported them from the Kisaralik River, B. J. McCaff- 

 ery (personal communication) reported them there on I6, 17, and 

 21 June 1987, and M. Brown et al. (unpublished) found them there on 

 9-10 August 1985 (one bird per day). One bird was seen at the Eek River 

 on 22 June 1985 (M. Brown et al., unpublished). We saw one bird at Cape 

 Peirce on 27 August 1970. 



Homed lark (Eremophila alpestris), Usr (4 June-2 August). Speci- 

 men: RMS 1962/36/27. 



We found homed larks nesting at the Tuluksak River and near 

 Goodnews Bay, and they possibly nested at the Salmon and Kisaralik 

 rivers. Larks were also seen at the Kisaralik River (11-17 August 1985), 

 the Kwethluk River (II-I6 July 1985), and the Eek River (19-24 June 

 1985; M. Brown et al., unpublished). Two homed larks were seen at Slug 

 Mountain on 4 June 1990 Q. T. Klicka, personal communication). Terri- 

 torial pairs in inland areas used dwarf shmb mat habitat with grasses 

 450-780 m asl and were absent from similar habitats at lower elevations. 

 On the coast, they used dwarf shrub mat habitat 110 m asl. Densities in 

 suitable habitat were usually <0.6 pair per square kilometer. Chronology 

 was variable between years at the Tuluksak River: pairs fed young on 19 

 and 22 June 1974, volant young were common 28 July-2 August 1974; 

 one was seen on 27 June 1978; and several were seen on 30 July 1981. 

 B. J. McCaffery (personal communication) found a homed lark nest on 

 20 June 1987 at the Kisaralik River. At Goodnews Bay, a pair was feeding 

 small young on 19 June 1974. D. R. Herter and D. Lloyd (personal 



