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Breeding Range. (Fig. 47). Uncommon and local in the badlands and on adjacent plains along the Little Missouri River valley and along adjoining portions of the Missouri River valley (most records from Billings and McKenzie Counties; also recorded in Mountrail, Dunn, Stark, Golden Valley, Slope, and Bowman Counties).

Apparently, Prairie Falcons were more numerous and widespread in former years. In the summer of 1874 during the expedition from Fort Lincoln southwest toward the Black Hills of South Dakota, Grinnell (1875) reported that this species was abundant everywhere on the plains, and "its breeding place was found in almost every high butte that we passed. " Alfred Eastgate reported this species breeding along the Mauvaise Coulee in Towner County (Wood 1923). It was also recorded at Linton in Emmons County during July 29-31, 1909 (V. Bailey).

Breeding Habitat. A characteristic wide-ranging inhabitant of expanses of native prairie and cropland that include badlands and high cliffs along stream valleys or scattered isolated buttes on the high plains.

Nesting.--Breeding records are listed as follows:

1929--An active nest was located near the top of the north side of Sentinel Butte in Golden Valley County (N. Weber).

1951--An aerie containing five young was observed in the south unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in Billings County on June 16 (A. Hanks).

1956--An adult carrying food was observed in the badlands south of New Town on July 7 (R. T. and A. M. Gammell).

1958-1960--Active nests were located in southern Billings County within Townships T138N. - RlOlW., T138N. - R102W., and T139N. - R101W. (E. Bry). The nest located in T139N. - R101W. was situated in a tree.

1959--A pair with a family of young that could not fly well were observed just south of New Town in July or August (E. A. Hibbard).

1973--On June 17, one adult and a nest containing three or four half-grown young was observed on a cliff along the Little Missouri River within the north unit of Roosevelt National Park (C. S. Robbins, RES).

1974--On June 22, the site of a recently destroyed nest attended by two adults, was observed about two miles south of Medora in Billings County; remnants of two or three eggs were present with evidence of human predation (R. N. Randall).

Figure 47. Breeding Range of Prairie Falcon.