United States Department of Agriculture Fauna of the Forest Service Starkey Experimental Pacific Northwest Research Station Forest and Range Genera Technical Report PNW-GTR-291 February 1992 Evelyn L. Bull and Michael J. Wisdom This file was created by scanning the printed publication. Mis-scans identified by the software have been corrected; however, some errors may remain. Authors EVELYN L BULL is research wildlife biologist and MICHAEL J. WISDOM is a wildlife biologist, USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Forestry and Range Sciences Laboratory, 1401 Gekeler Lane, La Grande, Oregon 97850. Abstract Bull, Evelyn L; Wisdom, Michael J. 1992. Fauna of the Starkey Experimental Forest and Range. PNW-GTR-291. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 28 p. This paper lists the birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibi- ans observed at the Starkey Experimental Forest and Range from 1973 to 1991. The information is a compilation of data collected from variable-width transects to detect birds, trapping grids to sample small mammals, seining of ponds to survey amphibians, and observations over the years. This list contains information on the occurrence, abundance, and habitats of species in the Experimental Forest. Keywords: Fauna, fauna! list, Experimental Forests, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, Oregon (Blue Mountains). Introduction The Starkey Experimental Forest and Range was desig- nated as a research facility by the Forest Service in 1940. Early research concentrated on grazing management of forested lands, livestock forage, and plant species important as indicators of trend in forage condition (Skovlin 1991). In the 1970s, research on nongame wildlife and riparian habitat management was started (Skovlin 1991). In 1987, 25,000 acres of the Experimental Forest was enclosed with fencing that deer and elk could not breach. The population response of Rocky Mountain mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus) and Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) to intensive timber management, cattle grazing, vehicle traffic, and hunting is under study for 10 years within the enclosure (Johnson and others 1991, Thomas 1989). This study and other recent studies of wildlife in the area (Bull 1987, Bull and others 1989) have sparked demand for additional information about local fauna, their seasonal occurrence, and their relative abun- dance. This paper provides a summary of such information. The Study Area Climate, physiography, soils, and vegetation of the area were described by Strickler (1965: 1 -2) as follows: The Starkey Experimental Forest and Range is located in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, 30 miles west of La Grande, Oregon [figs. 1 and 2]. The Range contains 29,000 acres along the upper slopes and main ridge of the central Blue Mountains. Elevations range from 3,800 to 5,000 feet Topography is mountainous with moderate slopes; only 10 percent of the land surface exceeds slopes of 35 percent. Annual precipitation averages 20 inches, of which two-thirds comes as fall rains and winter snows from September through 1 Figure 1—Location of Starkey Experimental Forest and Range in northeast Oregon.. March. Rains in April, May, and June account for most of the remaining precipitation. Snowmelt is generally complete by May 1. The growing season is about 120 days, but frost may occur in any month. Soils are predominantly silt loams derived from basic basalt, pumicite, and basaltic alluvium and lacustrine materials. Depths range from 4 inches in basalt soils of grassland ridges to more than 4 feet in pumicite soils under forests on north slopes. Although some plants are restricted to a soil series, most are found over several soil series within one of four generalized range types: open forest, dense forest, grassland, and meadow. The open forest type varies from almost pure ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Laws.) on basalt-derived soils on moderate south slopes to denser stands of the pine, Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii glauca (Beissn.) Franco), grand fir (Abies grandis (Dougl.) Lindl.), and western larch (Larix Figure 2—Map of Starkey Experimental Forest and Range. 3 occidentalis Nutt.) on pumicite soils on gentle slopes and flats. The ponderosa pine stands grade imperceptibly into the grassland type on south slopes. The open forest type has been subject to a long history of logging and livestock grazing. The dense forest type is restricted to closed-canopy stands on pumicite-derived soils. These stands occur mostly on flats, north slopes, and lower slopes in canyons. Douglas-fir, grand fir, and western larch are the major tree components on all habitats. Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry) and Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia Nutt.) are locally common in canyons. Dense stands of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl.) with scattered mature firs and larch occur on old burns. The type has been relatively undisturbed by logging and livestock grazing. Together, the open and dense forest types cover 70 percent of the acreage. Fires of variable severity have occurred in most of the forested types at one time or another. Grassland and meadow types account for the remaining 30 percent of the acreage, Historically, they were subject to excessive livestock grazing. Grasslands vary in size from small openings within the forest types to large tracts of several hundred acres. Basalt-derived soils are the most extensive and average 8 inches in depth. Soil hummocks (mounds, 18 inches in depth and of various sizes with some loessial materials) occur on flats and moderate slopes at several locations on the Range. These "biscuits" are more productive and have a richer flora than the surrounding, shallower, scabland soils. Seeps, up to 2 acres in size, occur frequently and present a more mesic-type flora than adjacent areas. The meadow type (2 percent of the total acreage) occurs along seasonal and year-long streams on deep. well-drained, basalt-derived alluvium. These level bottom lands are for the most part untimbered: however, some small, mature stands of Engelmann spruce, Douglas-fir, and grand fir do occur and present a shaded, moist habitat for herbaceous plants. Springs and bogs are common along major streams. 4 The Faunal List The species are listed by families, starting with birds (table 1), then mammals (table 2) and amphibians and reptiles (table 3). The abundance ratings (used in tables 1, 2, and 3) are defined as follows: Common: Almost always found during a day afield in the appropriate season. Occasional: Usually seen in the course of the appropriate season but in small numbers. Rare: Not regularly found. Suspected: Species suspected of occurring but not verified and abundance unknown. For birds (table 1), we also included a second listing under abundance that refers to the time of year that each species is likely to be seen. The categories include: Permanent: Occurs in the area throughout the year. Summer: Occurs in the area in summer; usually breeding in area. Winter: Occurs in the area in winter; often erratic in distribu- tion. Migrant: Occurs in the area in spring and fall; not breeding in area. 5 6 Table 1—Bird species, their relative abundance, season of occurrence, and common habitats In which they occur at the Starkey Experimental Forest and Range Common and scientific name Abundance, season Habitat Waterfowl (Anatidae): Canada goose, Branta canadensis Rare, summer Streams Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos Occasional, summer Streams, ponds Wood duck, Aix sponsa Rare, summer Streams Blue-winged teal, Anas discors Occasional, summer Streams Common merganser, Mergus merganser Common, summer Streams Plovers (Charadriidae): Killdeer, Occasional, summer Grasslands, Charadrius vociferus meadows, Camas Creek area Sandpipers, snipe (Scolopacidae): Common snipe, Rare, summer Wet meadows, Gailinago gallinago Camas Creek area Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularia Rare, summer Streams, ponds Upland aendpiper, Occasional, summer Grasslands, Bartramia longicauda Campbell Flat Gallinaceous birds (Phasianidae): Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo Rare, permanent Open forest Ruffed grouse, Occasional, Bonasa umbellus permanent Dense forest Blue grouse, Rare, permanent Open forest, Dendragapus obscurus grasslands 7 Table 1—continued Common and scientific name Abundance, season Habitat Hawks (Accipitridae): Northern harrier, Circus cyaneus Rare, summer Grasslands Sharp-«hinn«d hawk, Occasional, Accipiter striatus permanent Dense forest Cooper's hawk, Occasional, Accipiter coopeni permanent Dense forest Northern goshawk, Occasional, Accipiter gentilis permanent Dense forest Red-tailed hawk, Occasional, summer Open forest, Buteo jamaicensis grasslands Swainson's hawk, Rare, summer Open forest, Buteo swainsoni grasslands Rough-legged hawk, Buteo fagopus Occasional, winter Grasslands Bald eagle, Haliaeetus teucocephalus Rare, winter Open forest Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos Rare, permanent Open forest Ofiprey, Pandion haliaetus Rare, summer Streams Vultures (Cathartidae): Turkey vulture, Occasional, summer Open forest, Cathartes aura grasslands Falcons (Falconidae): American kestrel, Occasional, summer Grasslands, Faico sparverius open forest Owls (Sfrigidae): Barred owl, Strix varia Rare, permanent Dense forest Great gray owl, Rare, permanent Open forest, Strix nebulose meadows Western •creeeh-owl, Rare, permanent Streams, Little Otus kennicottii Bear Creek 8 Table 1—continued Common and scientific name Abundance,season Habitat Long-eared owl, Asio otus Occasional, summer