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Platte River Status: A fairly common migrant; rare and highly local summer resident. Tout (1947) found American redstart in Lincoln County during 4 May to 7 June, and 14 August to 26 September. Rosche (1979) reported American redstart in the lower North Platte River Valley only in fall during 12 August to 2 September. Short (1961) recorded American redstart sporadically and in very small numbers along the Platte River.

Breeding Range: Apparently restricted during the nesting season to the Platte River Valley physiographic region. Faanes observed an adult male in Eagle Canyon, Keith County (T. 15 N. - R. 40 W.) on 15 June 1979. Lingle observed a male in T. 13 N. - R. 30 W., Lincoln County on 12 July 1978.

Breeding Population: Because of the extremely limited distribution within the study area, we failed to record American redstart on the random census plots in 1979-1980. Based on field observations, we estimate that no more than 25 breeding pairs occur in the Platte River Valley during a normal nesting season.

Habitat: The nesting season record from Phelps County was obtained from mature lowland forest dominated by cottonwood directly adjacent to the river. The Keith County record was from mature cottonwood forest in a canyon on the south shore of Lake McConaughy. Faanes and Andrew (1983) reported largest breeding densities in northeastern North Dakota from bur oak forest. Kendeigh (1945) on the other hand, reported largest densities in New York were in open, second-growth deciduous forest. Stewart (1975) described North Dakota habitats used by American redstart as flood plain or upland mesophytic deciduous forest, particularly second-growth stands.

Effect of Habitat Alteration: Because of the small number of nesting birds in the Platte River Valley, we believe that habitat alterations that have occurred are largely unmeasureable.

Nesting Data: We have no confirmed records of nests or young from the study area. Nesting in Kansas occurs in May and June (Johnsgard 1979). Stewart (1975) reported that the probable nesting period in North Dakota was late May to late July.