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not seen as they perched in or moved through the exceedingly dense • <br />vegetation that characterized the mountain brush plots. <br />The green-tailed towhee was the most common species in both mountain <br />brush plots (Table 9). The second and third most common species in <br />this habitat were the blue-gray gnatcatcher (Poliootila caerulea) and <br />chipping sparrow (SOitella oasserina), respectively. The western <br />tanager was regular in the south plot, but was recorded just once in <br />the north plot. The black-headed grosbeak (Pheucticus melanoceohalus) <br />was common on the north plot, but never observed on the south plot <br />(Table 9). <br />Mountain brush did not appear to attract habitat specialists. <br />Oniy three species were exclusively observed in mountain brush during <br />breeding bird surveys: black-headed grosbeaks, orange-crowned warblers <br />(Vermivora celata), and turkey vultures (Cathartes aura). Although • <br />recorded only in mountain brush during breeding bird surveys, all of <br />those species were recorded in other habitats during general field <br />surveys. <br />Ashen <br />Eight of the 17 species recorded in aspen were recorded in both <br />plots (Table 10). Six species were observed exclusively on the south <br />plot and three species were recorded only on the north plot. <br />Bird abundance also varied considerably between the two aspen <br />plots. A mean of 22.3 birds per day were observed on the south plot, <br />whereas the north plot averaged 14.3 birds daily. Visibility was <br />better in the taller, more open forest of the south plot, and may have <br />accounted for differences observed in bird composition and abundance • <br />between the plots. <br />38 <br />