Chapter 10 Issues: Nongame, Threatened and Endangered Wildlife

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SUMMARY BACKGROUND INFORMATION BY SPECIES /ISSUE AMERICAN PEREGRINE FALCON Proposed Action - Delist from state threatened to nongame. Habitat - Cliffs CO Distribution /Use - Summer resident throughout Colorado in appropriate habitat Comments - Federally listed as endangered, but being :,onsidered for downlisting or delisting. Downlisted from state endangered to state threatened in 1993. Colorado delisting goals: 62 breeding pairs with a productivity of at least 1.4 young per year over a 5 year span and with eggshell thickness within 10% of pre -DDT average measurements for the same 5 year span. As of 1997, we have 79 breeding pairs (in 1996 and 1997), productivity averaging 1.49 since 1987, and annual average eggshell thickness ranging from -8.6 to -6.1 % over the past 6 years. Monitoring of the species needs to continue. ARCTIC PEREGRINE FALCON Proposed Action - Delist from state threatened to nongame. Habitat - Wetlands and riparian areas CO Distribution /Use - Migrant Comments - Federally delisted in 1994. Colorado contributes minimally to this falcon's biological needs since it passes through the state only briefly on migration. Protection of wetlands and riparian areas, and sound wildlife management practices should secure the falcon as it passes through the state. GREATER PRAIRIE- CHICKEN Proposed Action - Delist from state threatened to nongame. Habitat - Prairie grasslands CO Distribution /Use - Resident in NE, primarily in Weld, Morgan, Washington, Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips and Yuma counties. Comments - State downlisted from endangered to threatened in 1993. Colorado delisting goals: population trends remain stable or increase over 5 years and either 6,000 ac. of additional suitable habitat is being managed for GPCs in occupied range, or there is 1 distinct self- sustaining transplanted population (i.e., 6 leks with an average of 6 males per lek within 10 mi radius of the initial release site for at least 3 years). Population trends have generally increased from 1985 to 1997, and occupied range has increased from approximately 1800 sq. mi. in 1989 to approximately 2700 sq. mi. in 1997. GREATER SANDHILL CRANE Proposed Action - Delist from state threatened to nongame after the next field season's results. Habitat - mountain meadows CO Distribution /Use - Breeds primarily in Moffat and Routt counties, as well as Jackson, Grand and Rio Blanco counties.