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Parkdale Project • 8 • Reclamation Permit <br />4.0 Threatened and Endangered Species <br />No identified critical habitat for any state or federally listed threatened or endangered <br />species occurs within or near the permit area. In addition, no federal proposed or <br />candidate species are likely to inhabit habitats within or near the permit area. The permit <br />area is, however, located within the range of one federally listed endangered species <br />(peregrine falcon) and one threatened species (bald eagle). <br />Bald eagles are present primarily as wintering birds in Colorado, and a wintering <br />population is known to inhabit the Arkansas River valley downstream of the permit area. <br />A few nesting records also exist for the state, predominantly in the northwest and <br />southwest portions of the state (Andrews and Righter 1992). Bald eagles may <br />occasionally wander up the Arkansas River near the permit area during the winter <br />months, but preferred habitats are lacking within the permit area. <br />American and Arctic peregrine falcons are known to occur throughout the region <br />primarily during spring and fall migration. The permit area is located within the nesting <br />range of the American peregrine falcon. The Arkansas River Canyon in the vicinity of <br />Canon City and Parkdale has supported historic nesting activity (Torres et al. 1978) and <br />continues to be used by summer populations of this species (Andrews and Righter 1992). <br />It is likely that peregrines may occasionally fly over the permit area. Small riparian areas <br />along Tallahassee Creek could provide potential foraging habitat for peregrine falcon, but <br />more extensive and suitable foraging areas exist along the Arkansas River corridor. <br />The peregrine's preferred nest site is a rugged, remote cliff (100 to 300 feet in height) <br />usually overlooking water or marshy areas where prey is abundant (U.S. Fish and <br />Wildlife Service 1984). The only potential nesting habitat for peregrines within or near <br />the permit area is the small cliff area in the north-central portion of the site. As indicated <br />previously, no evidence of nestins by any raptors, including peregrine falcon, was <br />located along this cliff face. <br />