As indicated by actual counts made over an interval of 8 days, the 
breeding population of Wilson's Snipe at Gray's Lake is rather impressive. 
This lake has a total length of approximately 20 miles, the entire edge 
of which is bordered by open marsh suitable for breeding snipe. Diffi- 
culty of access made it impracticable to attempt a census on the west 
side, but observations showed conditions there to be essentially the 
same as on the east side. In the vicinity of Gray, the plowing and 
planting of such crops as wheat reduced to a slight extent areas suit-— 
able for the snipe, but this can be considered a rather negligible 
factor. The open marsh bordering the lake has a width varying from an 
eighth to possibly a half mile, the average being probably a quarter of 
amile. Each half mile of this marsh would appear to have at least one 
breeding pair of snipe; in several instances, where conditions were 
unusually favorable, two pairs were found within this limited area. 
There are in addition occasional sloughs bordered by open marsh that 
extend inland for a distance of a mile or more, and these were found to 
have two or three pairs of breeding snipe. These areas were not included 
in population studies made, but must be considered in connection with this 
study. 
The following table gives in detail the counts made each day, and 
the factors involved: 
Wilson's Snipe Counts at Gray's Lake, Idaho 
1951 
Date Time Weather South Route North Route 
May 21 P.M. Clear 28 
May 22 A.M. Clear 9 
May 22 PMs, Clear 15 
May 23 A.M. Clear 6 
May 23 P.M. Cloudy-light rain 12 
May 2h P.M. Cloudy-strong wind 7 
May 25 P.M. Clear 16 
May 26 P.M. Clear 17 
May 27 P.M. Cloudy-light rain ki 
ene er SS SP i a PP SS 
55 
