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Photo copyright by Doug Backlund, Pierre, South Dakota |
Species Description: The Black Hills American dipper (Cinclus mexicanus unicolor) is widely known for its characteristic dipping behavior, as well as its amazing ability to live and feed in the rapids and cascades of cool streams in the mountains of western North America. Dippers are unique passerine birds highly adapted to cold, mountain streams, where they dive and forage for aquatic insects. Location: Only Spearfish Creek and Whitewood Creek in the northern Black Hills supports a healthy population of dipper. Even French Creek and Rapid Creek, which once supported thriving populations, have not supported breeding populations for years. Threats: Water pollution and water quantity appear to be the major causes of the dipper's decline in the Black Hills. The dipper is extremely sensitive to stream pollution and is an important indicator of water quality. Known causes of pollution include livestock grazing in streams and riparian areas, logging, roads and road construction, and mining waste. Quantities of water are threatened mostly by water diversions. Recent Actions: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that a petition seeking Endangered Species Act (ESA) protection for the American dipper population in the Black Hills of South Dakota does not provide substantial information to indicate that protection may be warranted. Although no further action will result from this finding, the Service will continue to monitor the status of the dipper in that region.
The Service announced today that a petition, from the Biodiversity Conservation Alliance, Center for Native Ecosystems, Native Ecosystems Council, Prairie Hills Audubon Society and Jeremy Nichols, to list the American dipper in the Black Hills of South Dakota under the ESA did not provide adequate information to indicate that listing may be warranted.
More information can be found through the South Dakota field office's webpage.
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BLACK HILLS AMERICAN DIPPER
Last updated:
May 20, 2011
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