STATUS of the PRAIRIE FALCON (Falco Mexicanus) in BRITISH COLUMBIA
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STATUS OF THE PRAIRIE FALCON (Falco mexicanus) IN BRITISH COLUMBIA by J.M. Cooper and S.M. Beauchesne B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection Biodiversity Branch Victoria BC Wildlife Bulletin Number B-116 December 2004 i Wildlife Bulletins can contain preliminary data, so conclusions based on these may be subject to change. Bulletins receive some review and may be cited in publications. National Library of Canada Cataloguing in Publication Data Cooper, John M. (John Morton), 1956 Status of the Prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus) in British Columbia. (Wildlife bulletin; no. B-116) Also available on the Internet. Includes bibliographical references: p. ISBN 0-7726-5177-9 1. Prairie falcon - British Columbia. 2. Prairie falcon - Habitat - British Columbia. 3. Wildlife management - British Columbia. 4. Endangered species - British Columbia. I. Beauchesne, Suzanne. II. British Columbia. Biodiversity Branch. III. Title. IV. Series: Wildlife bulletin (British Columbia. Biodiversity Branch) ; no. B-116. QL696.F34 2004 333.95’896 C2004-960067-2 © Province of British Columbia 2004 This publication is available at http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/documents/statusrpts/b116.pdf Cover photo: US Bureau of Land Management Citation Cooper, J.M., and S.M. Beauchesne. 2004. Status of the Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) in British Columbia. B.C. Minist. Water, Land and Air Protection, Biodiversity Branch, Victoria BC. Wildl. Bull. No. B-116. 30 pp. ii iii DISCLAIMER In cases where a Wildlife Working Report or Bulletin is also a species’ status report, it may contain a status recommendation from the author. The Province, in consultation with experts, will determine the official conservation status and consider official legal designation. The data contained in the status report will be considered during those processes. ii iii TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................................1 2 DISTRIBUTION.......................................................................................................................................................1 2.1 Global ...............................................................................................................................................................1 2.2 British Columbia...............................................................................................................................................1 3 POPULATION SIZE AND TRENDS.......................................................................................................................1 3.1 Population Size .................................................................................................................................................1 3.2 Population Trends .............................................................................................................................................3 4 GENERAL BIOLOGY .............................................................................................................................................4 4.1 Reproductive Capability ...................................................................................................................................4 4.2 Species Movement............................................................................................................................................4 4.3 Behaviour/Adaptability.....................................................................................................................................4 4.4 Site Fidelity.......................................................................................................................................................4 4.5 Tolerance to Human Disturbance .....................................................................................................................5 4.6 Food ..................................................................................................................................................................5 4.7 Response to Sudden Environmental Change ....................................................................................................5 4.8 Causes of Mortality...........................................................................................................................................5 4.9 Protection of Areas of Concentration ...............................................................................................................6 5 HABITAT..................................................................................................................................................................6 5.1 Nesting Habitat .................................................................................................................................................6 5.2 Foraging Habitat ...............................................................................................................................................6 5.3 Migration ..........................................................................................................................................................6 5.4 Wintering ..........................................................................................................................................................6 5.5 Distribution of Habitat......................................................................................................................................7 5.5.1 Biogeoclimatic Zones (BGZ)..................................................................................................................7 5.5.2 Ecoregions...............................................................................................................................................7 5.5.3 Forest Regions and Districts ...................................................................................................................7 5.5.4 Broad Habitat Classes .............................................................................................................................7 5.6 Present Habitat Availability ..............................................................................................................................7 5.7 Trends in Habitat ..............................................................................................................................................9 6 LEGAL PROTECTION ............................................................................................................................................9 7 LIMITING FACTORS..............................................................................................................................................9 7.1 Nesting Habitat Availability..............................................................................................................................9 7.2 Foraging Habitat Availability..........................................................................................................................10 7.3 Agriculture......................................................................................................................................................12 7.4 Pesticide Poisoning.........................................................................................................................................12 7.5 Silviculture......................................................................................................................................................12 7.6 Disturbance.....................................................................................................................................................12 7.7 Grazing ...........................................................................................................................................................13 7.8 Urban Development........................................................................................................................................13 7.9 Winter Habitat.................................................................................................................................................13 8 SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SPECIES ....................................................................................................13 8.1 Status...............................................................................................................................................................13 8.2 Degree of Public Interest ................................................................................................................................13 8.3 Related Species...............................................................................................................................................14 iv v 9 MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS ...........................................................................................................14 9.1 Wildlife Habitat Areas, Wildlife Habitat Features and Other Reserves..........................................................14 9.2 Species At Risk Act ........................................................................................................................................14 9.3 Wildlife Act.....................................................................................................................................................14