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• Birds. Bird species were sampled by a variety of techniques. Observations (either incidental or <br />concurrent with surveying activities) indicating breeding, significant migratory behavior, and <br />significant utilization of one or more habitats in the study area were noted in field books. These <br />notes were later transferred to permanent species accounts journals. <br />The general frequency of bird species occurrence was determined using road cruise counts. A4.2 <br />mile (6.7 km) route was established in the study area (Map 2.04.11-1 ). The route was traversed <br />by vehicle twice in spring (27-28 May 1987) and twice in fall (8-9 October 1987). Each count began <br />about 1.5 hours before sunset and ended at sunset. Fifteen three-minute stops were made on <br />each replication. All birds detected at each stop were recorded. Results are reported as the <br />proportion of all stops at which a species was detected in each season to the total of 30 station <br />stops to provide an index of relative abundance. The road count was also used to quantify the <br />occurrence of three upland game bird species: the ring-necked pheasant, common snipe, and <br />mourning dove. <br />Winter raptor use of the study area and vicinity was assessed during an afternoon and morning of <br />cruising roads and glassing fields, trees, and skylines on 12-13 January 1988. The effort was <br />directed toward locating key roosting and/or hunting areas. Road cruises and glassing were also <br />• conducted during the spring survey period (20-22 and 26-29 May 1987) to locate raptor nest sites. <br />In addition, all observations of raptors made during the course of field work were recorded. <br />Seasonal small bird densities were determined in the farmsteads/orchards, Swale, and rangeland <br />habitats. The small, fragmented nature of these habitats in the study area necessitated the use <br />of differing census techniques in each. Both the Swale and farmsteads/orchards habitats had <br />blocks in the study area that were of sufficient size to allow absolute sampling of all birds found in <br />them. The Swale habitat block selected for study was present as a linear stringer of willows <br />surrounded by hydrophytic graminoids (Map 2.04.11-1 ). By walking first one side and then the <br />other, all the birds present could be counted. The total count of individuals of a given species for <br />each side of the swale was recorded. The higher of the two numbers was retained as the number <br />of individuals present for that particular census day. The census was repeated on three <br />consecutive days and the three day average for each species was used as the number of <br />individuals present. The Swale densities were converted to number of individuals /100 ac (40 ha) <br />after the area of the block was determined. The farmstead/orchard habitat allowed complete <br />sampling since, like the Swale habitat, it presented a small discrete unit in which all birds could be <br />counted (Map 2.04.11-1 ). A single pass through this habitat was repeated on three consecutive <br />days and the average number of individuals of each species was retained as the number of <br />individuals present. After determining the area sampled, the densities were converted to number <br />• of individuals/100 ac (40 ha). <br />(revised March zoos) 2.04.11-13 <br />