
An endangered Florida grasshopper sparrow prior to being released back into the wild. Credit: Karen Parker/Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Animals USANorth America’s Most Endangered Bird More Than Doubles in Number (in Only 5 Years!)
In just five years, the wild population of the Florida grasshopper sparrow has more than doubled, thanks to an unprecedented recovery program. Captive-raised sparrows have exceeded expectations and thrive in the wild.
“It is wonderful news that they have been able to successfully recruit into the population,” says Adrienne Fitzwilliam, the lead Florida grasshopper sparrow research scientist at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. “What we have achieved is the best case scenario. The birds are able to settle. They are able to breed. They are able to contribute to the population. So that piece of the puzzle, it’s very exciting that it’s working out well.”
Once spanning more than 405,000 hectares, the prairie grasslands — home to the Florida grasshopper sparrow — have shrunk by over 90% due to Florida’s rapid development. Habitat loss, predation, disease, and climate change have severely endangered the species. In response, captive breeding programs were initiated in 2019, with about 20% of the released birds surviving more than a year and breeding with their wild counterparts. Back then, the bird’s wild population was only 80. Today, it has more than doubled, reaching 200.