A Natural Areas Inventory of the - Kansas Natural Heritage Inventory ...
A Natural Areas Inventory of the - Kansas Natural Heritage Inventory ...
A Natural Areas Inventory of the - Kansas Natural Heritage Inventory ...
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
3.1. INTRODUCTION<br />
CHAPTER 3. ANIMALS<br />
William H. Busby<br />
<strong>Kansas</strong> Biological Survey<br />
2101 Constant Avenue<br />
Lawrence, KS 66047-3759<br />
wbusby@ku.edu<br />
Zoological studies on FLMR during <strong>the</strong> 1995–1996 field seasons consisted <strong>of</strong> five objectives: 1)<br />
compile a list <strong>of</strong> protected and rare species <strong>of</strong> animals, 2) plan and conduct surveys for <strong>the</strong>se<br />
species, 3) document all findings <strong>of</strong> all endangered, threatened, and special status species, 4)<br />
compile a report detailing all occurrences <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se species and describing exceptional biological<br />
natural areas on <strong>the</strong> installation, and 5) assist in <strong>the</strong> formulation <strong>of</strong> management ideas based on<br />
<strong>the</strong> survey results. In addition, baseline data about mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians<br />
were collected ancillary to targeted surveys for protected species.<br />
Federally and state-listed species were documented by Freeman et al. (1997). One federal<br />
threatened species, <strong>the</strong> bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus (Linnaeus)), was a regular winter<br />
resident. Four species <strong>of</strong> federally protected birds were determined possibly to migrate through<br />
<strong>the</strong> area, but nesting or foraging habitat is limited or absent on FLMR. They are <strong>the</strong> Eskimo<br />
curlew (Numenius borealis (Forster)), least tern (Sterna antillarum (Lesson)), piping plover<br />
(Charadrius melodus Ord), and whooping crane (Grus americana (Linnaeus)). The white-faced<br />
ibis (Plegadis chihi (Vieillot)) and peregrine falcon (Falco pereginus Tunstall), both state-listed<br />
birds, occasionally may appear during migration. Three <strong>Kansas</strong> Species in Need <strong>of</strong> Conservation<br />
(SINC) infrequently might use habitat on FLMR: black tern (Chlidonias niger (Linnaeus)), blue<br />
sucker (Cycleptus elongatus (LeSueur)), and red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus Gmelin). One<br />
SINC mammal, <strong>the</strong> eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus (Linnaeus)), was a resident on FLMR,<br />
and three SINC migratory birds bred on FLMR: cerulean warbler (Dendroica cerulea (Wilson)),<br />
yellow-throated warbler (Dendroica dominica (Linnaeus)), and whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus<br />
vociferus Wilson). Several state-listed species that were not found during <strong>the</strong> 1995–1996 field<br />
seasons were thought possibly to occur on FLMR because suitable habitat was available: eastern<br />
spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius (Raf.)), redbelly snake (Storeria occipitomaculata (Storer)),<br />
and smooth earth snake (Virginia valeriae (Baird & Girard)).<br />
In this follow-up study, all federally and state-listed animal species identified in Freeman et al.<br />
(1997) excluding fishes were re-surveyed. The Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis Miller & G.M.<br />
Allen), was added to our survey list. Bat surveys were conducted by Dr. Lynn Robbins and<br />
students, Southwestern Missouri State University. Surveys for <strong>the</strong> American burying beetle<br />
(Nicrophorus americanus Olivier) and a survey <strong>of</strong> snakes were conducted by Hank Guarisco,<br />
Lawrence, KS. Information about floodplain forest bird communities was ga<strong>the</strong>red in <strong>the</strong> major<br />
forest tracts differing in successional stage on FLMR.<br />
NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY OF FT. LEAVENWORTH II 44