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<br />Approximately 60,000 lesser sandhill cranes use the North <br />Valley near Hershey, Nebraska, as a spring staging area. <br />several thousand lesser sandhill cranes also use the North <br />Valley near Lewellen, Nebraska (Miller, 1981). <br /> <br />Threatened and Endangered Species.--The bald eagle is the only federally <br />listed endangered species which commonly occurs along the North Platte <br />River. Bald eagles are common winter residents and migrants along the <br />river, being attracted by the open water and large numbers of waterfowl <br />(Fi sher, 1980B). <br /> <br />Platte River <br />In additi on, <br />Platte River <br /> <br />The peregrine falcon historically nested in Wyoming. Although no <br />recent eyrie has been recorded along the North Pl atte, several canyons <br />in Wyoming offer excellent potential nesting habitat and are being <br />monitored by Bureau of Reclamation zoologists (Fisher, 1980B). <br /> <br />Two other federally listed endangered species, which have occurred <br />historically along the North Pl atte River, are the whooping crane and <br />the bl ack-footed ferret. Neither of these species has been sighted <br />along the North Platte in recent years (Fisher, 19808). <br /> <br />The State of Nebraska lists several species which may occur along the <br />North Pl atte as threatened or endangered, i ncl ud i ng the mountai n plover <br />and least tern, which are 1 isted as threatened species, and the swift <br />fox, classified as being endangered in Nebraska (table 4). Wyoming has <br />no 1 egi sl ati ve authority for determi nat ion of st ate threatened and <br />endangered species (Miller, 1981). <br /> <br />State and Federal Wildlife Areas.--Pathfinder National Wildlife Refuge <br />( PNWRj was acqui red pr imarily for waterfowl producti on. Management <br />activities include construction of artificial nesting structures, <br />waterfowl counts, and maintenance of boundary posts and fences. The <br />North Platte National Wildlife Refuge was acquired primarily to provide <br />migratory habitat for waterfowl. Management activities are simil ar to <br />those at PNWR. <br /> <br />Lands administered by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission include <br />wildlife refuges, game management areas, access sites to reservoirs or <br />rivers, natural areas, and reserv{)irs with only minimal development. <br />These areas are managed to produc-e fish, wildl ife, and associ ated <br />recreational activities on public lands for the general public benefit. <br /> <br />14 <br />