[Federal Register: July 22, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 139)]
[Notices]
[Page 36253-36254]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22jy09-106]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket Number FWS-R9-MB-2009-N0097; 91200-1231-9BPP]
Migratory Birds; Take of Peregrine Falcons for Use in Falconry
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In December 2008 we completed an Environmental Assessment on
take of peregrine falcons for use in falconry. This notice is to inform
the public of the allocation of take of nestling and migrant peregrine
falcons in 2009 agreed on by the States. It also will inform interested
individuals about which States will allow take of nestling or migrant
peregrine falcons.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. George Allen, Division of
Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, at 703-358-
1825.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Our authority to govern take of raptors is
derived from the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703-712), which
prohibits any person from taking, possessing, purchasing, bartering,
selling, or offering to purchase, barter, or sell, among other things,
raptors (birds of prey) listed in 50 CFR 10.13 unless the activities
are allowed under Federal regulations. Take and possession of raptors
for use in falconry is governed by regulations at 50 CFR 21.29.
In 2007, we completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) on falconry
and raptor propagation take (72 FR 31268; June 6, 2007), in which we
selected an alternative that will ensure that take of raptors for these
purposes will be well below levels that will affect their populations.
However, that EA did not consider of take of fall migrant peregrine
falcons (Falco peregrinus), which may originate outside the United
States.
We completed an EA on take of migrant peregrine falcons in 2008 (73
FR 74508; December 8, 2008). Our preferred alternative was to allow
take of 116 nestling and postfledging first-year peregrine falcons from
the nesting period through 31 August west of 100 degrees W longitude
(including Alaska), and allow a take of 36 first-year migrant peregrine
falcons between 20 September and 20 October from anywhere in the United
States east of 100 degrees W longitude.
Allocation of the 36 fall migrant peregrine falcons to be taken
from the United States east of 100 degrees W longitude was agreed upon
by the Atlantic, Mississippi, and Central Flyways. We expect the
allowed take of the fall migrants in 2009 to be as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allowed
State take
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maryland..................................................... 4
Virginia..................................................... 4
North Carolina............................................... 3
South Carolina............................................... 2
Georgia...................................................... 5
Arkansas..................................................... 3
Mississippi.................................................. 3
Oklahoma..................................................... 2
Texas........................................................ 10
----------
Total...................................................... 36
------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the western United States, the Central and Pacific Flyways
allocation complies with the provisions of our 2008 Final Environmental
Assessment, to total no more than 41 nestlings in Alaska and 75 in the
remaining western States. We expect take of nestling peregrines to be
allowed in 2009 in 9 States, as follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allowed
State take
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska....................................................... 6
Washington................................................... 9
Idaho........................................................ 0
Montana...................................................... 5
Oregon....................................................... 7
Utah......................................................... 11
Wyoming...................................................... 5
California................................................... 0
Nevada....................................................... 0
Colorado..................................................... 4
Arizona...................................................... 8
New Mexico................................................... 2
----------
Total...................................................... 57
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western States continue to have the authority to determine
allocation of take of nestlings. Take in previous years has been much
less than we allowed, and has been consistent with other take of
raptors for falconry. Therefore, after this year we will not publish
information about allocation of nestling take.
We expect the Flyways to review the allocation of the take of
passage peregrines each year. We will continue to work with them on the
issue, and may publish notices about it in the future. As noted in the
Final EA on take of migrant peregrines, we will review
[[Page 36254]]
population and harvest data for Canada, the U.S., and Mexico every five
years, or at the request of the Flyway Councils, to reassess the
allowable harvest limits. We will publish a Notice in the Federal
Register if we determine that the take of nestling or fall migrant
peregrines should be changed.
Interested individuals will need to contact each State that will
allow take of peregrine falcons to learn whether the State will allow
take by a resident of another State.
Dated: June 3, 2009.
Stephen Guertin,
Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. E9-16923 Filed 7-21-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P