Species Recovery Objectives for Four Target Species in the Central and Lower Platte River

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agencies that track these birds on the Platte River, existing literature and reports, and professional opinions of species experts at the September 2000 workshop. Sand pits, created by commercial sand and gravel operations, provide artificial, alternative nesting areas (nesting substrates) for least terns and piping plovers. Sand pits that are managed for tern and plover production are important for recruiting birds into the population, especially when riverine habitats are not available for nesting and fledging. Both riverine habitats and sand pits should be managed for tern and plover production, however sand pits should not be considered a substitute for river habitat. Since there does not appear to be a comprehensive description of sand pit habitat, especially foraging habitat, on the Platte River, it is recommended that such an investigation be conducted and reported. Data should be gathered on the characteristics of successful tern and plover nesting, fledging and foraging on sand pits along the Platte River. In addition, the investigation should assess the features of sand pit habitat that would best facilitate their role in assisting to achieve recovery levels for terns and plovers. All breeding adults and fledged piping plover and least tern chicks, whether they fledge from sand pits or riverine habitats, should count towards recovery and fledge rate objectives. All agencies and organizations that report tern and plover data on the Platte River should use standardized reporting of fledge rates by reporting tern and plover "chicks per pair" rather than "chicks per nest." In addition, how numbers of pairs are determined and how numbers of young fledged are determined should be standardized among reporting agencies and organizations. Whooping Crane This report confirms the goal in the existing Recovery Plan that the minimum viable population for the Aransas/Wood Buffalo Population (AWP) is 1000 individuals, including 250 breeding pairs, sustained for a minimum of a decade until the species is downlisted to threatened. Given that the recovery goal for the AWP is 1000 whooping cranes, this report recommends that habitat on the central Platte River be managed for 100 percent of the recovered AWP (1000 birds). The AWP (the species' only self - sustaining wild migratory flock) is experiencing a gradual positive population trend overall, although some years exhibit stationary or negative results. It was essentially a declining population in 2000 to 174 individuals in spring 2001 and also in February 2002. Whooping cranes historically used the Platte River as a major stopover area. Numerous studies have documented the physical changes to the central Platte River which has iv