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1 Vol. 78 Friday, No. 212 November 1, 2013. Part III. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Parts 10 and 21. General Provisions; Revised List of Migratory Birds; Final Rule mstockstill on DSK4 VPTVN1 PROD with RULES3. VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:05 Oct 31, 2013 Jkt 232001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4717 Sfmt 4717 E:\FR\FM\ 01 NOR3. 65844 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 212 / Friday, November 1, 2013 / Rules and Regulations Department OF THE Interior Mammals, February 7, 1936, 50 Stat. the definition of raptor'' to also include 1311 ( No. 912); the Order Accipitriformes, Fish and Wildlife Service (3) Japan: Convention between the corresponding to recent taxonomic Government of the United States of changes reflected in the List of 50 CFR Parts 10 and 21 America and the Government of Japan Migratory Birds.

2 For the Protection of Migratory Birds and [Docket No. FWS R9 MB 2010 0088, What scientific authorities are used to FF09M21200 134 FXMB1231099 BPP0] Birds in Danger of Extinction, and Their amend the list of migratory birds? Environment, March 4, 1972, 25 RIN 1018 AX48 3329 ( No. 7990); and Although bird names (common and (4) Russia: Convention between the scientific) are relatively stable, staying General Provisions; Revised List of United States of America and the Union current with standardized use is Migratory Birds of Soviet Socialist Republics Concerning necessary to avoid confusion in the Conservation of Migratory Birds and communications. In making our AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Their Environment (Russia), November determinations, we primarily relied on Interior .

3 19, 1976, 29 4647 ( No. the American Ornithologists' Union's ACTION: Final rule. Check-list of North American birds 9073). SUMMARY: We, the Fish and (AOU 1998), as amended (AOU 1999, What is the purpose of this rulemaking? 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, Wildlife Service, revise the List of Our purpose is to inform the public of 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010), on matters Migratory Birds by both adding and the species protected by the MBTA and of taxonomy, nomenclature, and the removing species. Reasons for the its implementing regulations. These sequence of species and other higher changes to the list include adding regulations are found in Title 50, Code taxonomic categories (orders, families, species based on new taxonomy and of Federal Regulations (CFR), Parts 10, subfamilies) for species that occur in new evidence of occurrence in the 20, and 21.

4 We regulate most aspects of North America. The AOU Checklist United States or territories, the taking, possession, transportation, contains all bird species that have removing species no longer known to sale, purchase, barter, exportation, and occurred in North America from the occur within the United States, and importation of migratory birds. An Arctic through Panama, including the changing names to conform to accepted accurate and up-to-date list of species West Indies and the Hawaiian Islands, use. The net increase of 19 species (23. protected by the MBTA is essential for and includes distributional information added and 4 removed) brings the total regulatory purposes.

5 For each species, which specifies number of species protected by the whether the species is known to occur Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) to Why is this amendment of the list of in the United States. For the 39 species 1,026. We regulate most aspects of the migratory birds necessary? that occur outside the geographic area taking, possession, transportation, sale, The amendment is needed to: (1) Add covered by the Check-list (28 that occur purchase, barter, exportation, and five species previously overlooked from in the Pacific island territories and 11. importation of migratory birds. An a family protected under the MBTA; (2) listed in the Japanese and/or Russian accurate and up-to-date list of species correct the spelling of six species on the conventions that have not occurred in protected by the MBTA is essential for alphabetized list; (3) correct the spelling the AOU area), we relied primarily on public notification and regulatory of three species on the taxonomic list; Clements (2007).

6 Although we primarily purposes. (4) add 11 species based on new rely on the above checklists, when DATES: This rule is effective December 2, distributional records documenting informed taxonomic opinion is 2013. their natural occurrence in the United inconsistent or controversial, we FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: States since April 2007; (5) add one evaluate available published and George Allen at 703 358 1825. species from a family now protected unpublished information and come to under the MBTA as a result of our own conclusion regarding the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: taxonomic changes; (6) add six species validity of taxa. Background newly recognized as a result of recent taxonomic changes; (7) remove four What criteria are used to identify What statutory authority does the individual species protected by the service have for this rulemaking?

7 Species not known to occur within the boundaries of the United States or its MBTA? We have statutory authority and territories as a result of recent A species qualifies for protection responsibility for enforcing the taxonomic changes; (8) change the under the MBTA by meeting one or Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) (16 common (English) names of nine more of the following four criteria: 703 712), the Fish and Wildlife species to conform with accepted use; (1) It is covered by the Canadian Improvement Act of 1978 (16 and (9) change the scientific names of Convention of 1916, as amended in 742l), and the Fish and Wildlife Act of 36 species to conform to accepted use.

8 1996, by virtue of meeting the following 1956 (16 742a j). The MBTA The List of Migratory Birds (50 CFR three criteria: (a) It belongs to a family implements Conventions between the ) was last revised on March 1, 2010 or group of species named in the United States and four neighboring (75 FR 9282). These amendments were Canadian Convention, as amended; (b). countries for the protection of migratory necessitated by three published specimens, photographs, videotape birds, as follows: supplements to the 7th (1998) edition of recordings, or audiotape recordings (1) Canada: Convention between the the American Ornithologists' Union's provide convincing evidence of natural mstockstill on DSK4 VPTVN1 PROD with RULES3.

9 United States and Great Britain [on (AOU's) Check-list of North American occurrence in the United States or its behalf of Canada] for the Protection of birds (AOU 2008, AOU 2009, and AOU territories; and (c) the documentation of Migratory Birds, August 16, 1916, 39 2010). such records has been recognized by the Stat. 1702 ( No. 628); In addition, we correct the legal AOU or other competent scientific (2) Mexico: Convention between the authorities citations at 50 CFR (a). authorities. United States and Mexico for the We also make a small change to a (2) It is covered by the Mexican Protection of Migratory Birds and Game definition in 50 CFR We update Convention of 1936, as amended in VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:05 Oct 31, 2013 Jkt 232001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4701 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\ 01 NOR3.

10 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 212 / Friday, November 1, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 65845. 1972, by virtue of meeting the following snow buntings) was split from the (4) Add 11 species based on review three criteria: (a) It belongs to a family Emberizidae (buntings and sparrows). and acceptance by AOU (since April or group of species named in the The euphonias were put into their own 2007) of new distributional records Mexican Convention, as amended; (b) Subfamily (Euphoniinae) and moved documenting their occurrence in the specimens, photographs, videotape from the Thraupidae to the Fringillidae United States, Puerto Rico, or the recordings, or audiotape recordings Family.