[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 139 (Wednesday, July 22, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36253-36254]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-16923]


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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.

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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:

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                                                                Allowed
                            State                                 take
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Maryland.....................................................          4
Virginia.....................................................          4
North Carolina...............................................          3
South Carolina...............................................          2
Georgia......................................................          5
Arkansas.....................................................          3
Mississippi..................................................          3
Oklahoma.....................................................          2
Texas........................................................         10
                                                              ----------
  Total......................................................         36
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    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
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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
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    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