Status: Federal status is Endangered. Florida status is Federally-designated Endangered. This bird is the most endangered bird in the continental United States.
This small native bird, Ammodramus savannarum floridanus, lives on grasshoppers and seeds and inhabits open prairies. Because the nest on the ground, the prairie must be dry. They are found in Polk, Osceola, highlands, and Okeechobee counties. Grasshopper sparrows breed throughout the year and there may be two or even three nesting attempts each breeding season. Both parents incubate the eggs, which are laid in clutches of 3-5 in dome shaped grass nests, for about 10 days. Parents continue to care for the young for about 8 days.
There was big news about this little bird this week! The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and community partners released captive-bred sparrows into Osceola County in an effort to reverse the near collapse of the species. With less than 80 sparrows in the wild before the release, extinction in the wild is a very real possibility. Genetic variation among these birds finds them to be closely related, but they appear to have enough genetic variability to enable them to recover. Introducing the birds that were reared in captivity may give them the boost they need.
The captive breeding program began in 2015 and is just one part of a strategic plan to guide management of this endangered bird. The plan also includes habitat management, nest protection, research, monitoring, and more captive breeding and release of birds.
Would you like to help efforts to save the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow? You can! Fish & Wilfdlife Foundation of Florida has a Florida Grasshopper Sparrow fund. You can support it here.
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