Over the previous twenty years, the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum floridanus) inhabitants has plummeted from greater than 1,000 birds within the wild to lower than 100, making it probably the most endangered chicken within the continental United States. A turnaround could also be of their future: The 1,000th captive-bred sparrow has simply been launched again into the wild.
Earlier than 2012, these distinctive birds had been restricted to a couple conservation areas and personal ranches close to the Kissimmee River. Federal and state companies, universities, breeding amenities, and nonprofit organizations like Audubon responded by bettering administration actions, rising analysis dedicated to the sparrows, and beginning a captive breeding program.
In the end, the captive breeding program has been profitable sufficient that Audubon and companions celebrated the discharge of the 1,000th Florida Grasshopper Sparrow on July 16 at Avon Park Air Pressure Vary.
“It is a hard-won milestone in Florida Grasshopper Sparrow conservation, and certainly in dry prairie conservation,” says Paul Grey, PhD, Everglades science coordinator for Audubon Florida. “I’m immensely happy with our various staff who, by thick and skinny, have labored collectively to get right here.”
Audubon employees have been essential staff members all through the reintroduction course of, offering technical help to the companies, funding subject technicians, and securing funds to take care of captive breeding actions. The just lately launched juveniles give us hope that we will recuperate this excellent endemic Florida chicken and pave the way in which for additional help of this vital program.
