• Florida Grasshopper Sparrow Recovery - Overview

    Title, Author, Source "Efforts to Save North America's Most Endangered Bird Are Succeeding"
    By Alex Tey
    Audubon Magazine, June 10, 2022
    Summary A collaborative captive breeding program has successfully boosted the population of the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow, North America's most endangered bird. The program has released over 500 captive-bred birds, helping the population rebound from fewer than 30 breeding pairs in 2018 to approximately 125 birds by 2021. Multiple organizations have worked together to prevent the species' extinction through breeding programs and habitat protection.
    Location Conservation lands south of Orlando, Florida

  • Florida Grasshopper Sparrow Recovery - Details

    Vocabulary - Captive breeding program: A conservation method where endangered species are bred in controlled environments
    - Florida dry prairie: An ecosystem that is a natural habitat for these sparrows
    - Subspecies: A distinct form or race of a species with unique characteristics
    Solutions - Collaborative captive breeding program established
    - Release of captive-bred birds into protected areas
    - Multiple organization partnerships (FWS, FWC, Audubon Florida, etc.)
    - Ongoing monitoring and research
    Reflection This story highlights how coordinated conservation efforts can prevent extinction, stressing the importance of acting quickly and learning from past failures like the Dusky Seaside Sparrow. The success raises questions about applying these methods to other species and the long-term sustainability of such programs.

  • Visual Documentation

    A person is holding a small bird and using a stethoscope to listen to its heartbeat or breathing. The bird is being gently restrained in the person's hand, with the stethoscope positioned near its body. The person's face is blurred in the background, but they appear to be focused on the task at hand. A person's left hand is holding a small bird, likely being banded or examined. The bird has a white belly, brown back, and a distinctive head pattern. It is wearing a metal band on one leg and possibly colored leg bands. The background is blurred, showing a natural setting with greenery and a table or other equipment in the distance. A close-up of a small bird's head, being held in someone's hand. The bird has a mottled brown and white plumage, a black beak, and a large, round eye. The background is a blurred, bright yellow-green color. A person is holding a small bird with mottled brown and white feathers, gently restraining it with their fingers to examine or band it.