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<br /> <br />.,. <br />~~; NEO-TROPICAL BIRDS <br />~ Birds observed, other than listed species and raptors, were what would be expected in the <br />C various habitat types found in the project area. A total of 70 species were observed while <br />conducting transects or as opportunistic observations. In May there were numerous <br />species of migrating birds observed in the study area. By June numbers for many of <br />those species declined as they moved on through the area Some were not nesters and by <br />June were not observed in the area. Birds that breed in the area were then observed <br />(~', almost exclusively. <br />As is commonly found when conducting bird studies, there are preferred habitat types <br />within any study area. In addition, there are birds that are habitat generalists and others <br />that have specific habitat requirements. As shown by the data, Aspen and Gamble <br />oak/mountain shrub support the greatest density and diversity of birds. Both the density <br />and diversity of birds would probably have been higher had there been more riparian <br />habitat in the study area. Riparian habitat was very limited due to the steepness of the <br />drainages and lacked the vegetation typically found in riparian areas where the gradient is <br />less. The greatest diversity of birds in riparian habitat was found along Hubbazd Creek in <br />areas where there was less gradient and vegetation such as willows and red osier <br />dogwood was more common. Many of the species shown for the riparian habitat were <br />~ also found in other habitats. This is a reflection of the influence of neighboring habitat <br />types. <br />The lazge expanses of aspen and oakbrush/mountain shrub habitat help minimize the <br />!! potential impacts to neo-tropical birds from lost habitat due to construction of drill pads <br />and access roads. Considering the total number of acres of these types available and the <br />few acres that will be lost, potential impacts to these birds will be minor. In addition, as <br />sites and roads are reclaimed, vegetative species used to revegetate these azeas will add to <br />1 the diversity of the azeas. Other studies in the North Fork V alley have shown that as <br />vegetation becomes established along the road corridors and around pads, both the <br />density and diversity of birds increases. <br />AMPIBIANS AND REPTILES <br />While conducting transects and raptor surveys observations of amphibians and reptiles <br />were kept. The only species of amphibian observed or heard were chorus frogs that were <br />found in many ponds located in the project azea. These ponds were checked for evidence <br />of other amphibians. There were none observed nor were there any egg masses or <br />~ tadpoles observed in the ponds. All ponds were man made structures that were built for <br />livestock watering purposes. These ponds typically dry up eazly in the summer, which <br />probably limits their use by amphibians. All drainages are steep with swift flowing <br />water, which Iimits their use by amphibians. The only species of reptile observed was the <br />western terrestrial garter snake. This snake was observed in the large slump area just <br />west of Thousand Acre Flats. <br />14 <br />