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Columbus is where major tributaries enter the Platte River and where the character <br />of the river changes significantly. <br />4. The numbers objective for piping plovers on the central Platte River should <br />be 126 piping plovers as a 10 -year running average, which is 45 percent of the <br />Recovery Plan goal for the entire Platte River. <br />5. The numbers objective for least terns on the central Platte River should be <br />300 least terns as a 10 -year running average, which is 40 percent of the Recovery <br />Plan goal for the entire Platte River. <br />6. The distribution objective for least terns and piping plovers on the central <br />Platte River should be that no fewer than 25 percent and no greater than 75 percent <br />of the birds occur above Kearney, Nebraska over a 10 year average. Nesting habitat <br />can occur at both sand pits and instream sites. <br />7. A specific distribution objective for least terns and piping plovers by bridge <br />segment is not being recommended, however to spread the birds out as much as <br />possible, a significant portion of nesting birds should occur both in the upstream and <br />downstream sections of the central Platte River. Kearney is chosen as the splitting <br />point to prevent too much of a skewed distribution. <br />8. The fledge rate objective for piping plovers on the central Platte River <br />should be 1.13 fledglings per pair for a 3 -year running average. However, managers <br />should consider reviewing new studies and data that may indicate a need to change <br />this objective. <br />9. The fledge rate objective for least terns on the central Platte River should be <br />0.70 fledglings per pair for a 3 -year running average <br />10. Both riverine habitats and sand pits should be managed for least tem and <br />piping plover production. Sand pits should not be considered as a "substitute" for <br />riverine habitat. <br />11. An investigation should be conducted and reported on the characteristics of <br />sand pit habitat, especially foraging habitats, used by nesting least terns and piping <br />plovers. <br />12. All breeding adults and fledged piping plover and least tern chicks, whether <br />they fledge from sand pits or riverine or shoreline habitats should count towards <br />species numbers and fledge rate objectives. <br />13. Managers on the Platte River should standardize reporting of fledge rates by <br />reporting least tern and piping plover chicks per pair rather than chicks per nest. <br />Also, managers should standardize how numbers of pairs and how numbers of young <br />fledged are determined. <br />34 <br />