Birds associated with black-tailed prairie dog colonies in southern shortgrass prairie

We conducted a census of avifaunal richness and abundance on black-tailed p rairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies and uncolonized shortgrass prair ie in the Oklahoma panhandle in July 1995 and April-June 1996. Five black-r ailed prairie dog colonies were paired with five uncolonized prairie sites having similar topography and soil structure. Data were collected by walkin g permanent line transects and making point counts with a 125-m radius at f ixed points placed 250 m apart. Avifaunal abundance and species richness we re determined for each site. Avifaunal abundance was significantly higher o n sites with prairie dog-colonies than at uncolonized sites during thr vege tation growing season. However, we found few significant differences in avi an abundance between prairie dog colonies and uncolonized prairie during th e drought months of 1996. We suggest these differences are because of droug ht-induced vegetation dormancy. Drought created homogeneous habitat instead of distinct habitat patches on prairie dog colonies characteristic of norm al precipitation years in other regions of the Great Plains.