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Platte River Status: A common migrant, rare and local breeding species and uncommon and local winter resident across the study area. Tout (1947) described northern harrier as the most common hawk in Lincoln County, stating that it is equally numerous in summer and winter. Rosche (1979) considered northern harrier a migrant and winter resident in the lower North Platte River Valley, present 10 September to 23 April. Northern harrier was described as uncommon at Keystone Lake, Keith County during 18 July to 19 August 1977 (Rosche 1977).

Breeding Range: An uncommon and local breeding species in the Platte River Valley; rare and very local on the Eastern Plain.

Breeding Population: We failed to record northern harrier on our random census plots in 1979-1980. We believe that probably no more than 100 pairs breed within the study area in any particular year.

Habitat: Our observations within the study area occurred primarily in upland prairie adjacent to shallow wetlands. Kantrud and Kologiski (1982) recorded the largest number of northern harrier on lightly or moderately grazed native grasslands on the northern Great Plains. Duebbert and Lokemoen (1977) found more nests on idle grasslands than on annually grazed prairie in South Dakota. Rising (1974) reported that northern harrier was a low density, local summer resident in tall grasslands, especially near water, in western Kansas.

Effect of Habitat Alteration: The destruction of native grasslands and drainage of wetlands has produced a negative impact on this species within the study area. Encroachment of wooded vegetation on wet meadow vegetation serves to reduce the attractiveness of that vegetation type for nesting.

Nesting Data: The only confirmed nest records from the study area are described in Tout (1947). A nest with 6 young was found in Moran Canyon, Lincoln County on 20 June 1931. Tout found a second, updated, nest with 4 eggs in a meadow south of the South Platte River. Egg dates in North Dakota range from 26 April to 25 June (Stewart 1975) .