12-15-13 Field Note

12-15-13 Field Note

December 15, 2013

Kate Stone's Bird Field Note shows a harrier hawk, coyotes, and a short eared owl, all seen durring the first week of the winter shubby draw surveys.

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Bird Field Note Kate Stone 12/13/13

We performed our first round of winter shrubby draw surveys after a week of subzero temperatures and a small snow storm.

American Tree Sparrows made up over half of our observations. Most foraged among the bitterbrush in upper Tongue Creek.

Sparrows alternated between shrubby perches and intermediate wheatgrass patches where they foraged for food.

A Song Sparrow fed on the exposed seeds of intermediate wheatgrass.

wheatgrass. A Mourning Dove plumped its feathers in response to the chill.

chill. This American Tree Sparrow took shelter from gusty winds in a snow-covered bitterbrush.

Snow Buntings typically forage on the ground, but Debbie saw this flock hunkered down in the bitterbrush in Tongue Creek.

DL photo Snow Buntings typically forage on the ground, but Debbie saw this flock hunkered down in the bitterbrush in Tongue Creek. We heard little noise from squirrels as they foraged in hawthorn and mountain maple shrubs.

shrubs. A cottontail sat exposed in the bottom of Tongue Creek.

A family of coyotes yipped as they popped out of Sheep Camp.

Mouse, shrew, and vole tracks mark the snow along the shrubby draws. Several mice entered the subnivean space at the base of clumps of crested wheatgrass.