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• ;iabitats on the Nucla study area. Four birds c„ere observed a.-~d many rrore Heard <br />in the alfalfa field and upland sagebrush habitat types during 1979-1980 <br />wildlife studies. Population estimates for t.'zis species are not available; <br />however, the ring-necked pheasant is very comron in the area (personal <br />comrw~ication, March 1980, Rich Sherman, DOW). Ring-necked pheasants nest <br />in dense, grassy areas along ditches and adjacent to grain fields. Limited <br />nesting habitat exists in the study area in the form of grassy areas along <br />the irrigation ditches and adjacent to the alfalfa field. Ha..ever, ring- <br />necked pheasant nests were not encrountered on the study area. <br />.4~urning dove. Only one mourning dove was observed in the study area. This <br />individual was sighted flying over the juniper habitat during the breeding <br />passerine transects in June, 1979. <br />?burning doves are sumrer and fall residents of the study area. Population <br />estimates of ;rnurning doves in the area are not available; however, crourning <br />doves are rot as comron as ring-necked pheasants (personal communication, <br />• March 1986, Rich Sherman, DCS4), fourning doves nest in a variety of situa- <br />tions including trees, shrubs and on t}ie ground, No mourning dove nests <br />were observed on the site; however, potential nesting habitat cccurs through- <br />out the study area. <br />Waterfowl. Three small water bodies and a marshy area are present in the study <br />area (Nap 11-2, Appendix A) and repres«t potential waterfowl habitat. Two <br />of the water bodies are intermittant; the third was used to store water for <br />irrigation, Although waterfowl were not observed on the study area during fall <br />migration, it is possible that the permanent water body and marshy area could <br />be used as resting and feeding sups during migration. The study area occurs on <br />the far western e8ge on the Central Flyway (Linciuska 1964). Possible migrants <br />through the study area (during migration) include: pintail,. mallard, baldaate, <br />gadwall, green-winged teal and cinnamon teal. Of the four potential waterfowl <br />areas on the study site only one, the marshy area, represents potential <br />nesting habitat because of the available perennial water and associated <br />aquatic vegetation (e.g., ~_hus sp, and Juncos spp.); however, this area <br /> <br />-39- <br />JUN 1 1 1980 <br />