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4-48 <br />for the general scarcity of raptors may have been related <br />• to the low population of these rodents. <br />The habitat affinities of all mammals identified are shown <br />on Table 4.6-4. Laboratory identifications of cottontails <br />were not made, since this requires collecting specimens <br />and examining skull morphology. Probable identifications <br />are based upon habitat occurrence. Woodrat nests were ob- <br />served at many sites, but no specimens were captured for <br />identification. The identification of the western harvest <br />mouse is based on osteological and pelage characteristics. <br />There is no question regarding its proper identification. <br />The nomenclature used for mammals follows Armstrong (1972). <br />• 4.6.5 Bird Studies <br />The results of bird studies conducted during summer, fall, <br />winter and spring are presented on Table 4.6-5. quanti- <br />tative counts of bird species observed in various habitats <br />were conducted during the summer and fall periods (Table <br />4.6-6 and in spring (Table 4.6-7). The counts were made <br />by walking an 80OM transect or for a one-hour period in <br />each habitat sampled and counting all the individuals of <br />each species observed. Only unstructured observations <br />were made during winter because of the extreme scarcity <br />of birds during this season. Results of quantitative <br />studies are useful for evaluating habitat affinities and <br />• seasonal changes in diversity and abundance, and these <br />results will tie closely with spring census information. <br />