[Federal Register: November 14, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 219)]
[Notices]               
[Page 66341]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14no06-49]                         


[[Page 66341]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

 
Withdrawal of Notice of Availability of a Technical Agency Draft 
Recovery Plan for the Puerto Rican Parrot

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice, withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, withdraw the notice of 
availability of the revised technical agency draft recovery plan for 
the Puerto Rican Parrot (Amazona vittata vittata). The Puerto Rican 
parrot, largely green with a red forehead and blue flight feathers, is 
one of nine extant Amazona parrots occurring in the West Indies. The 
notice (71 FR 58426, October 3, 2006) was released in error, however, 
we anticipate announcing the current revision of the recovery plan in 
fiscal year 2007, which incorporates new information, describes actions 
considered necessary for the conservation of this species, establishes 
criteria (important milestones) for recognizing the recovery levels for 
downlisting from endangered to threatened, and estimates the time and 
cost for implementing the recovery measures needed.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the original recovery plan are available by 
request from the Boquer[oacute]n Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, P.O. Box 491, Boquer[oacute]n, Puerto Rico 00622 (telephone 
787/851-7297) or by visiting our Web site at http://endangered.fws.gov/recovery/index.html
.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Field Supervisor at the above address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Puerto Rican parrot is presently considered one of the 10 most 
endangered birds in the world. Since 1973, the number of wild parrots 
has never surpassed 47 birds, and currently stands at a minimum of 28 
individuals mostly confined within the Caribbean National Forest 
boundaries in the Luquillo Mountains.
    The Puerto Rican parrot is a fruit-eating cavity nester seldom seen 
far from forests. The decline of the parrot and its restricted 
distribution are due to many factors, mostly the widespread habitat 
loss (e.g., deforestation.) The extant parrot population may have 
retreated to the Luquillo Mountains because preferred lowland habitat 
was destroyed. Due to its nesting requirements, it depends on mature 
forests with large cavity-forming trees. Many stands of cavity-forming 
trees are old enough to meet nesting requirements in the Caribbean 
National Forest. Parrots concentrate their use of habitat within the 
largest remaining area of essentially unmodified forest. However, some 
observations suggest that the parrots are using private areas bordering 
the southern and northern parts of the Caribbean National Forest.
    Despite the present low numbers and limited distribution, many of 
the historical threats, such as nest competition and predation of eggs 
and chicks by pearly-eyed thrashers (Margarops fuscatus), predation of 
fledglings and adults by red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis), 
predation by rats (Rattus rattus and R. norvegicus), parasitism by 
warble flies (Philornis pici), and the impact of hurricanes and 
competition for cavities with European and Africanized honeybees (Apis 
mellifera), have been controlled through management strategies.
    Restoring an endangered or threatened animal or plant to the point 
where it is again a secure, self-sustaining member of its ecosystem is 
a primary goal of the endangered species program. To help guide the 
recovery effort, we are preparing recovery plans for most listed 
species. Recovery plans describe actions considered necessary for 
conservation of the species, establish criteria for downlisting or 
delisting, and estimate time and cost for implementing recovery 
measures.
    The Act requires the development of recovery plans for listed 
species, unless such a plan would not promote the conservation of a 
particular species. Section 4(f) of the Act requires us to provide a 
public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment during 
recovery plan development. When we announce the availability of the 
current revision of the recovery plan in fiscal year 2007, we will 
provide opportunity for public review and comment.

Authority

    The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered 
Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

    Dated: October 12, 2006.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E6-19162 Filed 11-13-06; 8:45 am]

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