Potential for enhancing nongame bird habitat values on abandoned mine lands of western North Dakota

Conference · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1984 · Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)

OSTI ID:5336262

Burley, J B; Hopkins, R B

Throughout western North Dakota the number of unreclaimed surface coal and coal-uranium mines might total over 1100. We examined the potential for enhancing the nongame bird habitat values of unreclaimed mine lands in the arid, western region of North Dakota. Generally, the greatest variety of birds occurred in natural and planted woodlands, while fewer birds occurred in unreclaimed mine lands, grasslands, shrublands and croplands. Deciduous woodland types supported more species of birds than coniferous types. Planted woodlands supported about the same number of bird species as some natural deciduous woodland types and more species than coniferous woods. Unreclaimed mine lands supported more species than grasslands and croplands, and about the same number of species as native shrublands. The highest bird densities were in planted woodlands. Bird diversity varied positively with habitat diversity. The bird fauna of unreclaimed mine lands can be enhanced by creating more diverse habitats. Seventeen guidelines to enhance unreclaimed mine lands for nongame birds are presented. These guidelines can be used in preserving habitats threatened by surface mining and reclaiming previously mined lands.

• Research Organization: North Dakota State Univ., Fargo
• OSTI ID: 5336262
• Report Number(s): CONF-841204-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Univ. Ky., Off. Eng. Serv., (Bull.); (United States)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010900* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Environmental Aspects
053000 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Environmental Aspects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
550100 -- Behavioral Biology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ABANDONED SITES
ANIMALS
BIRDS
COAL MINES
ECOSYSTEMS
FEDERAL REGION VIII
HABITAT
LAND RECLAMATION
MINES
MINING
NORTH AMERICA
NORTH DAKOTA
POPULATIONS
SPECIES DIVERSITY
SPOIL BANKS
SURFACE MINING
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
URANIUM MINES
USA
VERTEBRATES