WILSON'S SNIPE AND SORA RAIL IN YAMPA RIVER VALLEY, COLORADO 
Hal M. Boeker 
Colorado Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit 
. During the spring and summer of 1953, breeding populations of 
Wilson's snipe (Capella gallinago} and sora rail (Porzana carolina) 
in the Yampa River Valley, Colorado, were censused by the writer in 
conjunction with a waterfowl production study. 
The Yampa Valley is a long narrow floodplain and canyon extend- 
ing from headwaters on the White River Plateau to its confluence with 
the Green River in northwest Colorado. The valley varies from one- 
fourth mile in width in the canyons to about 10 miles in width shortly | 
after its emergence onto the floodplain proper just southeast of Steam- 
boat Springs. The water table along the entire non-canyon vortion of 
the valley is high, and development of sedge and cattail marsh is ex~ 
tensive. This habitat, plus the oxbow and meandering stream areas, 
constitutes the waterfowl, snipe, and rail breeding grounds found in 
the region. The principal snipe and rail breeding prounds are situated 
at altitudes varying from 6,000 to 8,000 feet. 
Wilson's snipe were most frequently seen around flooded meadows, 
bogs, and willow swamps, apparently preferring the boglike areas con- 
taining dense growths of sedge (Carex spp.). Sora rails were invariably 
found in the vicinity of small marsh areas vegetated with cattails 
(Typha) and bulrushes (Scirpus). 
Table 2\.--Territorial snipe and rails observed on study areas, | 
| Yampa River Valley, Colorado, 1953 
Snipe Rail 
Area Approximate Breeding finnowing breeding Total 
elevation territories areas territories 
Stillwaters 9,500 - - —_ ws 
Phippsburg 7,800 13 8 5 26 
Steamboat Springs 6,800 10 6 1 17 
Tow Creek 6,600 - - - 2 
Carey Ranch 6,400 8 hy 5 17 
Big Bottoms 6,100 - - s : 
Duffey Mountain 5,800 - - = a“ 
Juniper Springs 5,700 - ~ 1 1 
Maybell - 5,600 oo - 2 = 3 
64 
Total | 32 20 12 


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