Listed Species In The Middle Platte Region

Nationally, there are currently 434 plant and 320 animal species listed as endangered, with another 92 plant and 114 animal species listed as threatened. Of these, one plant and four animal species are found in the Middle Platte Region. Several other animal species are infrequent or rare migrants through the area. List of Middle Platte Endangered Species

Whooping Crane
While the numbers change annually, there are now approximately 156 whooping cranes in the wild. Traveling singularly or in small flocks, they use the Central Flyway while moving between their wintering grounds at Aransas National Refuge in South Texas and nesting areas in Canada. Their use of the Middle Platte depends upon local weather conditions.


In November, 1994, a flock of seven whooping cranes remained on Funk Lagoon, a 2,000 acre wetland twenty-five miles southwest of Kearney, for ten days. Unlike Sandhill cranes, which stage on the Platte for up to six weeks in March and April, whooping cranes generally move north after a few days.

Bald Eagle
There are no currently active eagle nests in the Middle Platte region, although since 1992 eagles have nested on Sherman County Reservoir, located fifty miles north of the study area. When weather conditions create stretches of open water on the Platte during mild winters, large numbers of bald eagles overwinter in the study area.

The discharge canal at the J-2 powerplant on Johnson Lake generally creates local ice-free conditions which consistently attracts eagles. At the viewing site created at the powerplant by Central Irrigation District, concentrations of thirty-five to forty eagles are not uncommon. Nationally, bald eagle numbers have increased from 450 nesting pairs to 4,500 nesting pairs in the lower forty-eight states. In July 1995, the status of the species was upgraded from endangered to threatened.

Peregrine Falcon
Peregrine falcons are considered extremely rare migrants through the Middle Platte. As falcon numbers have increased nationally in the last decade, an occasional sighting is made in this region.

At this time, there are no known Peregrine nesting sites within the study area. However, there are Peregrine nests just east of the Middle Platte region in Lincoln and Omaha.

Interior Least Tern

Interior least terns nest on bare sandbars in the Middle Platte region. Researchers observed 649 least terns along the Platte River in 1994.

Piping Plover

Piping plovers are listed as a threatened, rather than endangered, species. Like least terns, they nest on bare, flood-scoured sandbars. In 1994, 215 piping plovers were observed in the Middle Platte region.

Eskimo Curlew
In May 1987, a Fish and Wildlife biologist identified a single Eskimo curlew in a flock of shorebirds at Mormon Island Crane Meadows near Grand Island. However, this sighting was not confirmed, so the current use of the Middle Platte by eskimo curlews is unknown. A transcontinental migratory species which nests in the Artic and winters in South America, the curlew historically passed through the Middle Platte in huge flocks. Unfortunately, this species appears very close to extinction at the present time.

Endangered Mammals
There are no nationally-listed endangered mammals in the study area. Black-footed ferrets, wolves, and grizzly bears were native to the area, but were extirpated by early settlers long before there was any concern for endangered species.

There is no current plan to reintroduce any extirpated mammal to the Middle Platte region. However, there is one ongoing reintroduction project now underway in the study area. While not listed nationally, the river otter is listed as a Nebraska endangered species. An attempt to reintroduce river otters to the Middle Platte region was initiated in 1986. Although some otters have been lost to accidental trapping and accidents, the reintroduction campaign is considered a success at this time.

American burying beetle
The only currently identified endangered insect species in the Middle Platte region is the American burying beetle. This is a large black and orange carrion-eating beetle. A biologist working for Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation found a number of these insects at sites near Cozad and Johnson Lake.

Western Prairie Fringed Orchid
There is one endangered plant species in the Middle Platte region. There is a small colony of western prairie fringed orchids at the Audubon Society's Rowe Sanctuary near Grand Island.