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<br />A vertebrate survey of the Northt'ork Development Area was conducted on <br />31 May, 1986 between 600 and 900 hours. Clear skies, 70-80 degree <br /> <br />temperature, and 0-5 mph wind prevailed during the suryey. The survey <br /> <br />consisted of walking through or around the dominant habitat types (open <br /> <br />field, wetland, lake, oak/aspen woods with moderate and dense understory, <br />and oak savanna) and recording any vertebrates that could be identified <br /> <br />visually or from sign or song. All 42 bird species encountered can be <br /> <br />considered to occur regularly in the Northfork Development Area (Landwehr <br /> <br />1986). The following observations are of particular interest. <br /> <br />A pair of common loons were observed on Lake Itasca. One <br />loon flew away from the lake after apparent disturbance from <br />the surveyors, but returned within 5 minutes. Six red-necked <br />grebes were noted on Lake Itasca and at least one appeared to <br />be nesting. The presence of loons and grebes suggests that <br />the lake contains some type of fish for forage. Several wood <br />ducks were observed in small forested wetlands where <br />sufficient natural cavities for nesting sights were apparent. <br />Seventeen Canada geese were observed flying over an open <br />field and may utilize Lake Itasca. A pair of Eastern <br />bluebirds were seen in an old-field at the north-western <br />corner of the development. <br /> <br />Only 5 species of non-avian vertebrates were identified but this was not <br /> <br />unexpected due to the short survey time. White-tailed deer tracks were <br /> <br />observed along all edge areas surveyed. It was surprising that only 1 <br /> <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />squirrel was observed during the survey, since there are an abundance of <br /> <br />oak trees on the area. <br /> <br />-39- <br />