A Natural Areas Inventory of the - Kansas Natural Heritage Inventory ...

Recommendations. None.
Peregrine falcon: Falco peregrinus Tunstall
Past Records. This raptor is a rare to uncommon migrant in Kansas (Thompson and Ely 1989).
In the last few years, peregrine falcons have been seen on FLMR (J. Schukman personal comm.)
and elsewhere in northeast Kansas along the Missouri River. Peregrine falcon populations,
decimated by the effects of DDT contamination in the 1950–‘70s, have begun to recover. This
species recently was delisted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Nesting has occurred
recently on tall buildings in Kansas City, Missouri, and in Topeka, Kansas.
Available Habitat and Surveys. This bird visits a variety of habitats during migration. Favored
sites are wetlands, lakes, and large rivers where there are concentrations of prey birds. The
Missouri River valley provides good foraging habitat, but cliffs and tall buildings that might
attract breeding falcons are limited. No surveys were conducted for the peregrine falcon, and no
observations were made during other field work.
Potential for Occurrence on FLMR. Migrating and wandering individuals occasionally pass
through the area. However, sufficiently tall structures to attract breeding birds to FLMR are not
present.
Recommendations. None.
Redbelly snake: Storeria occipitomaculata (Storer)
Past Records. This snake is at the western edge of its range in eastern Kansas. Records in
northeast Kansas come from Atchison, Jefferson, and Douglas counties (Collins 1993). No
redbelly snakes were observed on FLMR by Freeman et al. (1997).
Available Habitat and Surveys. The redbelly snake inhabits woodlands and forests, most often
those dominated by oaks and hickories, and with a dense layer of leaf litter. Sites with extensive
rock in the substrate are preferred. Forested uplands on FLMR were surveyed from April–
October 2003 (Table 3.2, Appendix E). Surveys involved searching in leaf litter and under logs
and rocks.
Potential for Occurrence on FLMR. This secretive species is difficult to find using any survey
technique because it occupies subterranean habitats. Individuals are most likely to be found
above ground in the spring and fall. Even though individuals were not found during this survey,
it is possible that the species inhabits large tracts of high-quality White oak-Shagbark hickory
Forest and Maple-Basswood Forest on FLMR, especially around rock outcrops on slopes in the
north part of the installation.
Recommendations. Existing stands of upland forest should be maintained. Not enough is known
about the habitat requirements of this snake to permit specific management recommendations to
be made. However, the fact that the redbelly snake generally is found in high-quality forests
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