Threats to Wildlife and the Platte River

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p. 26 WILDLIFE As with terns, encroachment of woody vegetation is rendering former Piping Plover habitat unsuitable throughout the river valley, and human disturbance and habitat degradation have resulted in their being federally designated as threatened throughout much of the inland parts of their range, and endangered along the shores of the Great Lakes. The bulk of the species' range occurs on the Great Plains, where they are listed as threatened. Management considerations for the Least Tern apply to the Piping Plover as well. "The recovery of the least tern and piping plover in Nebraska depends on the maintenance and/or restoration of river nesting and foraging habitat" (NGPC 1986, p 19). Although historical records are very sketchy, it is possible that both the Least Tern and Piping Plover began to nest along the Platte River only after water development reduced peak flows in the 1940s (EA Eng. Sci. & Tech. 1988, p XV). Regardless of when or why they first arrived on the Platte, habitat loss elsewhere and the precarious status of these species make it important to protect and enhance suitable habitat. Waterfowl The term waterfowl usually means ducks and geese. In the Platte River valley and adjacent Rainwater Basin, it means 7 to 9 million ducks and geese annually (Currier et al. 1985, p 43). It means Greater White- fronted Geese, CanadaGeese, Mallards, Northern Pintails, American Wigeon, Green- and Blue- winged Teals, and Redheads, to name a few. A quarter of a million Greater White - fronted Geese, two - thirds of the mid - continental population, stage in central Nebraska each spring. Spring staging allows the Greater White- fronted Geese, similar to the Sandhill Cranes, to build up nutrient reserves which are important for survival and later reproductive success on the nesting grounds. As do cranes, waterfowl make use of waste grain in nearby farm fields. Until the early 1960s, Greater White- fronted Geese staged primarily on the Platte, but degraded habitat conditions seemed to force their relocation to the Rainwater Basin (H. Miller 1988, pers. comm.). Large numbers of birds also stop in the area during the fall. Most stop for shorter periods of time than in the spring, although Mallards and Canada Geese overwinter, especially if the weather is mild (USFWS 1981, p 48). The numbers and distribution of waterfowl in winter are associated with the extent of ice -free water. Fall waterfowl hunting along the Platte is very popular, generating substantial income to local communities through the sale of sporting goods, food, and lodging (Currier et al. 1985, p 44).