Description of Covered Species. The RCW is a territorial, nonmigratory cooperative breeding bird species that evolved in a mature pine, fire-maintained ecosystem. RCWs live in social units called groups which generally consist of a breeding pair, the current year's offspring, and one or more helpers (normally adult male offspring of the breeding pair from previous years). Groups maintain year-round territories near their roost and nest trees. The RCW is unique among the North American woodpeckers in that it is the only woodpecker that excavates its roost and nest cavities in living pine trees. Each group member has its own cavity, although there may be multiple cavities in a single pine tree. The aggregate of cavity trees is called a cluster. RCWs forage almost exclusively on pine trees and they generally prefer pines greater than 10 inches diameter at breast height (DBH). Foraging habitat is generally contiguous with the cluster. The number of acres required to supply adequate foraging habitat depends on the quantity and quality of the pine stems available. The RCW is endemic to the pine forests of the Southeastern United States and was once widely distributed across 16 States. The absence of natural fires that once perpetuated open pine habitat has led to midstory encroachment and continues to be a major threat to RCW populations range- wide (Xxx Xxxxx and Xxxxx 1978, Hovis and Xxxxxxx 1985, Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxx 1989 and 1991, Xxxxx and Xxxxxx 1989, Xxxx et al. 1992, Xxxxx 1995, Xxxxxx 1995, Masters et al. 1995). The species, however, is still widely distributed (presently occurs in 11 southeastern States), but remaining populations are highly fragmented and isolated. Presently, the largest known populations occur on federally owned lands such as military installations and National Forests. A thorough description of RCWs and their life history can be found in the Recovery Plan for the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Second Revision (USFWS 2003; hereafter referred to as the “RCW Recovery Plan”). The RCW is federally listed as an endangered species. No critical habitat has been designated for the species.
Description of Covered Species. The northern spotted owl (spotted owl) inhabits structurally complex forests from southwest British Columbia through the Cascade Mountains and coastal ranges in Washington, Oregon, and California, as far south as Marin County. The spotted owl was listed under the ESA as threatened on June 26, 1990, because of widespread loss of suitable habitat across the spotted owl’s range and the inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms to conserve the spotted owl. Past habitat loss and current habitat loss are also threats to the spotted owl, even though loss of habitat due to timber harvest has been greatly reduced on Federal lands for the past 2 decades. Many populations of spotted owls continue to decline, especially in the northern parts of the subspecies’ range, even with extensive maintenance and restoration of suitable habitat in recent years. The spotted owl has become rare in British Columbia, southwestern Washington, and the northern coastal ranges of Oregon. Managing sufficient habitat for the spotted owl now and into the future is essential for its recovery. However, securing habitat alone may not recover the spotted owl. Based on recent scientific information, competition from the barred owl (S. varia) poses a significant and complex threat to the spotted owl that will need to be further investigated. Scientific research and monitoring indicate that spotted owls generally rely on mature and old-growth forests because these habitats contain the structures and characteristics required for nesting, roosting, and foraging. Forested stands with high canopy closure also provide thermal cover and protection from predators. Although spotted owls can disperse through highly fragmented forested areas, the stand-level and landscape-level attributes of forests needed to facilitate successful dispersal have not been thoroughly evaluated or described. Spotted owls are territorial and usually monogamous, forming long-term pair bonds. Home-range sizes vary geographically, generally increasing from south to north, which is likely a response to differences in habitat quality. Estimates of median size of their annual home range vary from 2,955 acres in the Oregon Cascades to 14,211 acres on the Olympic Peninsula. The Service generally uses a 0.7-mile-radius circle (984 acres) from the activity center to delineate the most heavily used area during the nesting season. Forest stand characteristics, the amount of forest fragmentation, breeding status, and time of year can in...
Description of Covered Species. The following excerpts for the Hawaiian stilt are from the USFWS September 2000 Revised Recovery Plan for Hawaiian Waterbirds Second Revision. Aeo or Hawaiian stilt (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni) Description The Aeo or Hawaiian stilt is a slender wading bird, black above (except for the forehead), white below, and with distinctive long, pink legs. The Hawaiian stilt differs from the black- necked stilt by having black extending lower on the forehead as well as around to the sides of the neck, and by having a longer xxxx, tarsus (leg), and tail (Xxxxxxx 1981, Xxxxxxxx et al. 1999). Sexes are distinguished by the color of the back feathers (brownish female, black male) as well as by voice (females having a lower voice). Downy chicks are well camouflaged, tan with black speckling. Immatures have brownish back, and white patches on their cheeks (Xxxxx et al. 1987). The total length of adult Hawaiian stilts is about 40 centimeters (cm) (16 inches (in)). A comprehensive summary of the current knowledge of stilts in North America has recently been published by The Birds of North America (Xxxxxxxx et al. 1999).
Description of Covered Species. A complete description of the physical characteristics, ecology, life history, historic range, status, and major factors threatening the existence of the covered species can be found in the final rule listing the covered species (58 Federal Register 14330) and in the Service’s Recovery Plan for the Mobile River Basin Aquatic Ecosystem (USFWS 2000).
Description of Covered Species. 5.1.1 Speckled Pocketbook (Lampsilis streckeri) The speckled pocketbook is a medium-sized (3.2 inches in length) freshwater mussel with a thin, dark-yellow or xxxxx shell with chevron-like spots and chain-like rays (Xxxxxxxx 1927, Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx 1990). The shells exhibit sexual dimorphism (males and females differ), with females becoming broader and more evenly rounded posteriorly. The reproductive cycle of the speckled pocketbook is similar to that of other native freshwater mussels. Males release sperm into the water column; the sperm are then taken in by the females through their siphons during feeding and respiration. The females retain the fertilized eggs in their gills until the larvae (glochidia) fully develop. The mussel glochidia are released into the water, and within a few hours/days, must attach to the appropriate species of fish, which they parasitize for a short time while they develop into juvenile mussels. The speckled pocketbook is gravid during August with the release of glochidia in late February through early June. Xxxxxxxxxxxx (2002) tested 22 fish species for their potential suitability as fish host. Glochidia successfully transformed on sunfishes from the Middle Fork Little Red River (Centrarchidae), with greatest success occurring with the green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus). The speckled pocketbook is endemic to the Little Red River basin in north central Arkansas. The species’ historic range included the main stem Little Red River and the four forks (Xxxxxx Fork, Middle Fork, South Fork, and Turkey/Beech/Devils Fork complex; U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1991). A portion of the historic range was inundated by the construction of Greers Ferry Reservoir. Channel alterations in the Xxxxxx and South Forks (Xxxxxx et al. 1997; Davidson and Wine 2004) have further reduced suitable habitat for this species. The current known range is restricted to the Middle Fork Little Red River from the influence of Greers Ferry Reservoir upstream to the confluence of Little Red Creek (63 river miles), the South Fork Little Red River extending upstream of Arkansas Highway 95 to near the western boundary of Gulf Mountain Wildlife Management Area and the Ozark National Forest (14 river miles), the Xxxxxx Fork from approximately one mile xxxxxxxx xx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx 00 to the confluence of Xxxxxxxxxxx Creek (16 river miles), the lower Turkey Fork (2 river miles), Beech Fork (11 river miles) and Big Creek (10 river miles). The speckled pocketbook occurs...
