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 ...
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<strong>the</strong> single record reported by Brumwell (1951). This suggests that eastern chipmunk populations<br />
may have expanded greatly on FLMR during <strong>the</strong> past 50 years.<br />
Recommendations. Existing stands <strong>of</strong> oak-hickory forest on FLMR should be maintained. This<br />
species is fairly tolerant <strong>of</strong> forest fragmentation and may utilize habitat in disturbed woodlands.<br />
Franklin’s ground squirrel: Spermophilus franklinii (Sabine)<br />
Past Records. Franklin’s ground squirrel is known historically from scattered sites in more than<br />
a dozen counties in <strong>the</strong> eastern half <strong>of</strong> <strong>Kansas</strong>, including Leavenworth (Bee et al. 1981).<br />
Brumwell (1951) reported a colony <strong>of</strong> a dozen or fewer individuals on <strong>the</strong> bank <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Missouri<br />
River opposite Grant Hill. This squirrel has experienced widespread declines in <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn part<br />
<strong>of</strong> its range, including <strong>Kansas</strong> and Missouri (Pergrams and Nyberg 2003). No recent records are<br />
known from FLMR or from nor<strong>the</strong>astern <strong>Kansas</strong>.<br />
Available Habitat and Surveys. This mammal typically occupies prairie-forest ecotones, building<br />
burrows in dense grass, weedy fields, wasteland, and shrubby forest edges (Bee et al. 1981,<br />
Schwartz and Schwartz 1981). Surveys were not conducted for this species, and no individuals<br />
were observed during this study. Davis (2003) was unable to find any Franklin’s ground<br />
squirrels in his study at FLMR.<br />
Potential for Occurrence on FLMR. With <strong>the</strong> loss <strong>of</strong> most grassland vegetation on FLMR,<br />
suitable habitat virtually has been eliminated. It is probable that Franklin’s ground squirrel has<br />
been extirpated on <strong>the</strong> installation.<br />
Recommendations. If nearby populations are discovered, additional surveys for this species<br />
should be conducted on FLMR.<br />
Red-shouldered hawk: Buteo lineatus Gmelin<br />
Past Records. This hawk is a local, uncommon, summer resident and transient in <strong>the</strong> eastern<br />
quarter <strong>of</strong> <strong>Kansas</strong>. Records exist for Leavenworth and most surrounding counties (Thompson<br />
and Ely 1989). However, most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se individuals probably are transients. Few summer records<br />
exist for nor<strong>the</strong>ast <strong>Kansas</strong> (Busby and Zimmerman 2001, KSNHI unpublished data). Brumwell<br />
(1951) reported a nesting pair in a cottonwood tree near <strong>the</strong> upper reaches <strong>of</strong> Corral Creek on<br />
FLMR. Red-shouldered hawks were not observed by Freeman et al. (1997), but <strong>the</strong>y were<br />
recorded at MAPS banding stations in <strong>the</strong> mid-1990s, including one bird at <strong>the</strong> Weston Bend<br />
North site on 24 June 1995 and 15 June 1996, and at <strong>the</strong> Weston Bend South site on 11 June<br />
1996 (Institute for Bird Populations unpublished data).<br />
Available Habitat and Surveys. This hawk favors wooded floodplains and wetlands, and FLMR<br />
appears to <strong>of</strong>fer excellent habitat. One bird was detected in <strong>the</strong> mature floodplain forest near <strong>the</strong><br />
great blue heron colony on 9 June 2003 (Figure 3.6). Observations <strong>of</strong> red-shouldered hawks<br />
during <strong>the</strong> breeding season suggest a breeding pair occurs on or near FLMR.<br />
NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY OF FT. LEAVENWORTH II 60