Hatching chronology of Blue Grouse in northeastern Oregon

Hatching chronology of Blue Grouse ( Dendragapus obscurus ) in northeastern Oregon was determined from 431 immatures examined from 1981 to 1985. Young hatched from 1 May through 8 July; median hatching dates for the five years ranged from 27 May to 5 June. Peak hatching in Oregon occurred from one to four weeks earlier than in most portions of the range of Blue Grouse but were similar to north central Washington and Idaho. Variations in hatching dates possibly were related to rainfall.       

Fall diet of blue grouse in Oregon

The early fall diet of Oregon blue grouse ( Dendragapus obscurus pallidus ) from Wallowa County, Oregon, was determined from 145 crops obtained during 1981 and 1982. Of more than 50 plant and animal foods in the diet, short-horned grasshoppers ( Acrididae ), prickly lettuce ( Lactuca serriola ), yellow salsify ( Tragopogon dubius ), wild buck-wheat ( Eriogonum spp.), and snowberry ( Symphoricarpos albus ) occurred in 30% or more of the crops and collectively amounted to 68% of the diet by weight. Seven of the 12 most common foods were consumed differentially by the four sex and age classes of birds. Results indicated that blue grouse foraged in forest and grassland habitats.     

List of Oregon Scolytidae (Coleoptera) and notes on new records

Listed are 121 species of Scolytidae from Oregon. Ten species are reported from Oregon for the first time: Hylastes tenuis Eichhoff, Phloeosinus scopulorum scopulorum Swaine, Phloeosinus hoferi Blackman, Trypodendron betulae Swaine, Xyleborus xylographus (Say), Trypophloeus striatulus (Mannerheim), T. Thatcheri Wood, Procryphalus mucronatus (LeConte), Pityophthorus scalptor Blackman, and Monarthrum dentigerum (LeConte). The second Oregon specimen of an exotic species, Xyleborus californicus Wood, is reported also.     

First record of the spotted bat ( Euderma maculatum ) from Oregon

A spotted bat ( Euderma maculatum ) was taken at Mickey Springs, 28 km northeast of Andrews, Harney County, Oregon. This represents a 225 km range extension and a new record for Oregon.     

Woodrat nest flea Anomiopsyllus amphibolus in southeastern Oregon

The flea Anomiopsyllus amphibolus is reported from southeastern Oregon, a range extension of about 475 km from the nearest reported localities in northwestern Utah.     

Survival rates of translocated and native Mountain Quail in Oregon

We estimated survival rates for 232 radio-tagged native ( n = 157) and translocated ( n = 75) Mountain Quail ( Oreortyx pictus ) from 1997 to 1999 in Hells Canyon National Recreation Area (HCNRA) in northeastern Oregon and in the Cascade Mountain Range (CMR) of southwestern Oregon. For the combined areas the estimated survival rate during 150-day intervals was 0.42 ± 0.04. Estimated survival was 0.41 ± 0.04 for Mountain Quail in HCNRA and 0.34 ± 0.34 for quail in CMR. There were no differences in survival functions for native quail in HCNRA and CMR ( P = 0.91), for translocated and native quail in HCNRA ( P = 0.93), for native quail in CMR and translocated quail in HCNRA ( P = 0.97), or for birds released in the fall and birds released in the winter ( P = 0.57). Male and female survival functions were significantly different ( X 2 1 = 4.61, P = 0.02). The estimated risk ratio for males was 0.66 that of females. Translocated wild Mountain Quail appeared to have survival rates similar to native quail. Mountain Quail experienced mortalities of > 50% over a 150-day interval in both the conifer forests of the western Cascade Mountain Range and the semiarid habitats of northeastern Oregon. With the ability to rapidly expand their populations and exploit marginal habitats, Mountain Quail are excellent candidates for reintroduction programs, and translocated wild Mountain Quail could be used to supplement declining populations.     

Brood-rearing habitat use by Rio Grande Wild Turkeys in Oregon

Wild turkey ( Meleagris gallopavo ) brood-rearing sites have been described for portions of their range, but brood-rearing habitat use and characteristics of brood-rearing sites used by Rio Grande Wild Turkeys ( M. g. intermedia ) in the Pacific Northwest were unknown. We described cover types at 362 brood-rearing sites and measured habitat characteristics at 64 of these sites used by a recently established Rio Grande Wild Turkey population in southwestern Oregon during May-September 1989 and 1990. Hens with broods used 9 of 10 available cover types. Meadows, mixed hardwood/conifer woodlands, and savannas were used more often than expected (47% of observations, P ≤ 0.05). Broods used mature mixed conifer and dense sapling/pole mixed conifer cover types less than expected and did not use brush-fields. Many brood-rearing sites were characterized by a parklike appearance. Understory vegetation averaged P ≤ 0.05). We suggest that land managers maintain mixed hardwood/conifer woodland and savanna cover types adjacent to meadows on south slopes to provide brood-rearing habitat for Rio Grande Wild Turkeys in southwestern Oregon.     

Water temperature at oviposition sites of Rana luteiventris in northeastern Oregon

Water temperature at which Columbia spotted frog ( Rana luteiventris ) eggs were deposited and developed was determined at 18 oviposition sites in northeastern Oregon in 2000. Mean daily water temperature on the day of initial egg deposition ranged from 7.6° C to 16.0° C with a mean of 9.6 ° C. Maximum water temperatures on the 1st day of egg deposition ranged from 9.8° C to 20.2° C and averaged 15.5° C. Eggs were not deposited on days when maximum water temperature was below 9.4° C. Duration of egg deposition ranged from 1 to 20 days at the 18 sites. Embryos hatched after 12 21 days. Mean and maximum daily water temperatures were significantly correlated with number of days to hatching. Key words: Columbia spotted frog, embryonic temperature tolerance, northeastern Oregon, Rana luteiventris, ranid.     

Temporal variation in the diets of California Quail in western Oregon

This study was designed to describe dietary changes by comparison of information on long-term diet and plant food availability of California Quail ( Callipepla californica ) in western Oregon. We examined crops from 222 California Quail collected in 1976-78 and 1985-87. Diets included 14 key plant foods (annual frequency > 15%) among 53 taxa consumed; 10 of the 14 key foods were similar between time periods. Collectively, key foods contributed 87% of the diet by aggregate dry mass during 1985-87; six species of legumes (family Leguminosae) composed 67% of diet. Relative rankings of availabilities of key foods were similar between 1976-78 and 1985-87. This study revealed that quail were opportunistic within the group of key foods because 9 of the 14 key foods were consumed in different frequencies between the two periods. Legumes were an important dietary component in western Oregon because they composed the bulk of the diet, were among the most frequently consumed, and most were taken in substantially greater proportions than available.     

Mites (excluding chiggers) of mammals of Oregon

New information on the ectoparasitic mites of the following species of mammals from Oregon is presented: (1) pika — Ochotona ; (2) squirrels — Eutamias, Spermophilus, Tamiasciurus; (3) grasshopper mouse — Onychomys; (4) woodrats — Neotoma; (5) muskrat — Ondatra; (6) jumping mice — Zapus; and (7) weasels — Mustela, Spilogale. New records of species for the state and new host records are also given. Finally, a cross - referenced list of all known mites of wild mammals from Oregon is presented.      

History and status of the Franklin's Gull on Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon

Franklin's Gulls first arrived in southeast Oregon in 1943, but the first nest was not located until 1948. From 1949 to 1964 gull numbers showed annual fluctuations. An increase began in 1965 and continued through 1980. By 1980 an estimated 2500 Franklin's Gulls were nesting on Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Harney County, Oregon. The species arrives in April and nesting begins by 1 June. Average nest and egg measurements were similar to those from other areas within the species range.     

A disjunct ponderosa pine stand in southeastern Oregon

An isolated stand of ponderosa pine ( Pinus ponderosa ) is surviving on an extremely harsh site in southeastern Oregon. Seed production is low because of insects, primarily pine coneworm ( Dioryctria auranticella ), feeding in developing cones. Seedling establishment is infrequent and difficult because of drought and coarse, rocky soils. A rock-mulch soil surface probably reduces interspecific competition. Because stand size is small (     

Distribution, foraging behaviour, and capture results of the spotted bat ( Euderma maculatum ) in central Oregon

The spotted bat ( Euderma maculatum ) has been virtually unknown in Oregon despite the existence of potential habitat in many areas of the state. In 2002 and 2003 we searched for spotted bats along the John Day, Deschutes, and Crooked Rivers and at a remote dry canyon southeast of the city of Bend in central Oregon. The species was documented through the use of mist-nets, a bat detector, and recognition of audible spotted bat calls. Spotted bats were found at 11 locations in 6 Oregon counties. Nightly activity patterns of spotted bats were unpredictable. Spotted bats were found in 78% of search areas but on only 48% of survey nights. We observed spotted bats foraging above fields and low upland slopes adjacent to rivers and creeks and along the rims of cliffs. Estimated flying heights of spotted bats ranged from 3 m to 50 m aboveground. The species was difficult to capture and was captured only after considerable experimentation with methods and materials. Three spotted bats were captured toward the end of the project in 2003 and accounted for only 0.5% of all bats captured during the study. Although we attached radio transmitters to 2 spotted bats, we found no roost locations. We believe additional spotted bat surveys in Oregon are warranted, especially in higher-elevation habitats, but recommend that to increase their effectiveness, surveys accommodate the unique foraging behavior of the species.     

Western painted turtle in Grant County, Oregon

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Species-habitat relationships in an Oregon cold desert lizard community

The abundance and diversity of lizards in nine habitat types from Oregon were studied from May through October 1980. Eight species were from eight habitat types. The most common species were Sceloporous occidentalis, Uta stansburiana, Sceloporous graciosus, and Cnemidophorus tigris. Phynosoma douglassi was uncommon and Eumeces skiltonianus was not observed. Temporary streams in nonbasaltic areas were the most productive habitat m terms of lizard abundance but sagebrush areas were the most productive habitat in terms of species diversity.   No lizards were recorded from grassland conversion areas. The conflict between a land management policy that emphasizes both vegetation conversion and conservation of present wildlife stocks is discussed.     

Note on food habits of the Screech Owl and the Burrowing Owl of southeastern Oregon

Diets of the Common Screech Owl ( Otus asio ) and Burrowing Owl ( Athene cunicularia ) from the Great Basin, Malheur County, southeastern Oregon, were studied. Although there was considerable overlap in the diets of these owls, there were differences related to habitat use.     

Food of cougars in the Cascade Range of Oregon

Animal and nonanimal items were identified in the digestive tracts of 61 cougars ( Felis concolor ) collected between 1978 and 1984 from the western slopes of the Cascade Range in Oregon. Forty - two (69%) of the cougars were taken by hunters in December and January, 18 (30%) were killed at other times of the year because of their proximity to livestock, and one animal was illegally killed in November. Black-tailed deer ( Odocoileus hemionus columbianus ) was the most common prey item, although domestic sheep ( Ovis airies ), porcupines ( Erethizon dorsatum ), and a variety of small mammals were also recorded. Masticated grass was the most common nonanimal item.      

Interactions among squirrels, mycorrhizal fungi, and coniferous forests in Oregon

We examined the mycophagy (ingestion of fungi) of squirrels of five genera and eight species in the coniferous forests of Oregon. Data from 644 dietary samples demonstrated that squirrels of all eight species are mycophagous and eat the belowground fruiting bodies of at least 26 genera of mycorrhizal fungi. Four species are primarily arboreal and active throughout the year; the other four are primarily terrestrial and hibernate during winter. Of the squirrels examined, only the northern flying squirrel ( Glaucomys sabrinus [Shaw]) is nocturnal and almost exclusively a fungivore. The flying squirrel is used to illustrate the dynamics of all the squirrels in association with hypogeous mycorrhizal fungi, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, yeast, and coniferous trees in Oregon forests because we have studied it the most. Squirrels may prove to be vital links among different processes within temperate coniferous forests.     

Leeches of the Snake River in Idaho and Oregon: paleodrainage implications of Mooreobdella microstoma

Leech species of the mid-Snake River of Idaho and Oregon are described, and the distribution of the extant leech Mooreobdella microstoma Moore in the Snake River paleodrainage is delineated. Samples were collected from aquatic surveys in the Snake River using suction dredging by the Idaho Power Company and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation between 1995 and 2006. Supplementing these surveys, opportunities were provided for leech identification in water-quality analyses in Arizona and Wyoming and in other surveys in California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Eight species of leeches were found in the Snake River surveys. Erpobdella parva Moore was the most widely distributed species, occurring both above and below Shoshone Falls. Mooreobdella microstoma was widely distributed below Shoshone Falls. Other leech species were rare, although Helobdella stagnalis Linnaeus was very common above and less common below Shoshone Falls, a natural barrier to the anadromous fish. Mooreobdella microstoma is an extant species that links the Snake River to the lower Colorado River by various paleodrainages. It probably colonized the Snake River by upstream movement, whereas Erpobdella parva likely colonized this river by downstream movement.     

Brood habitat use by Sage Grouse in Oregon

Habitat use by Sage Grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus hens with broods was examined at Jackass Creek and Hart Mountain, Oregon, from 1989 through 1991. Sage Grouse hens initially selected low sagebrush ( Artemisia spp.) cover types during early brood-rearing, big sagebrush cover types later in the brood-rearing period, and ultimately concentrated use in and near lakebeds and meadows. Areas used by Sage Grouse broods typically had greater forb frequency than did random sites. Hens at Jackass Creek selected sites with forb cover similar to that generally available at Hart Mountain, but home ranges were larger at Jackass Creek because of lower availability of suitable brood-rearing habitat. Differences in habitat use by broods on the two areas were reflected in dietary differences; at Hart Mountain, chicks primarily ate forbs and insects, whereas at Jackass Creek most of the diet was sagebrush. Larger home ranges, differences in diets, and differences in availability of forb-rich habitats possibly were related to differences in abundance and productivity between areas.