Avifauna of the Four Canyon Preserve, Ellis County, Oklahoma

Abstract

In 2004 the Nature Conservancy established a new preserve in the mixed prairie of northwestern Oklahoma. Our year-round surveys of the preserve in 2005 yielded 97 bird species. With additional species recorded by others, the site list stands at 111 native species and two non-native species. We confirmed nearly one-fourth of these species as breeders on site, and an additional fourth of the species probably or possibly breed on site. Among the species we recorded on site were Interior Least Terns (Sterna antillarum athalassos), and we report on the potential occurrence of resident Lesser Prairie-Chickens (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) and migrant Whooping Cranes (Grus americanus). We also compiled a list of additional species likely to occur on the preserve as migrants, breeders, or winter visitors.