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Sidle and Kirsch (1993) analyzed the use of sandpits by least terns along the entire Platte <br />River. There are about 255 sand and gravel mining sites along the Platte, Loup, and <br />North Loup rivers; the majority occurring along the central Platte River. Most (99 <br />percent) were within 1 mile (1.5 km) of the rivers, and 78 were considered to provide <br />suitable nesting substrate. Least terns and piping plovers nested at 53 (68 %) of sand pits <br />with suitable substrate in at least one year during 1988 -1991. On the central Platte River, <br />least terns and plovers nested at a greater percentage of suitable sand pits (81 %) than on <br />the lower Platte (60 %)(Sidle and Kirsch 1993). <br />Within the central Platte River study area, during 1982 -1998, 83 percent of the least terns <br />and 72 percent of the piping plovers nested on sandpits (Tables 1 and 2). <br />Habitat Conditions of the Study Area <br />General habitat conditions of the study area are described in the Geomorphology section <br />of this report. These include channel morphology, discharge at nearest gage, and <br />vegetation. Specific habitat information is found above. <br />Historic data not being collected during the Program <br />During the Program, nest site habitat parameters will be qualitatively estimated /recorded <br />from outside the colony using binoculars or a spotting scope. Specifically, these <br />measurements include elevation, distance of the nest to nearest water, distance to <br />obstruction, vegetation around the nest, sediment size. Historically some or all of these <br />parameters have been quantitatively measured at selected nest sites. <br />Tern and plover movements will not be researched during the Program through banding <br />or radio - telemetry. <br />Data gaps /protocols <br />Least tern and piping plover data is available for most areas at some level, however, <br />much of this data was collected or compiled over various time frames using a variety of <br />methodologies. Collecting species and habitat data concurrently using a consistent <br />methodology over a period of time will provide a much more thorough analyses and <br />description of the ecology of terns and plovers on the central Platte River. <br />A monitoring protocol will be used to evaluate the biological response (changes and <br />trends) of least tern and piping plover reproduction during the time that habitat and water <br />elements of the Program are being implemented. The document "Monitoring <br />reproductive success and reproductive habitat parameters of least terns and piping plovers <br />in the central Platte River valley" describes the conceptual design and study methods for <br />monitoring the reproductive success and reproductive habitat parameters of least terns <br />and piping plovers in the central Platte River valley, Nebraska. <br />Draft Baseline Report, July 2002 <br />4 -15 <br />