The Florida Grasshopper Sparrow
Ammodramus savannarum floridanus
Florida's most imperiled bird is also one of its least recognized. Most Floridians have never heard of the Florida Grasshopper Sparrow, the non-migratory subspecies making its last stand in the headwaters of Florida's Everglades. A loss of habitat necessitated federal protection in 1986 as an endangered species, but today the bird's survival is still unsure. Wildlife biologists race to understand and reverse the causes of its recent rapid decline. A working group of 75+ biologists from multiples agencies and organizations aren't giving up and hope to show that there is still space for the sparrow in today's Florida.
Most of the photos in this project were taken as part of a photo essay for the Spring 2017 issue of Living Bird Magazine.
“This bird may be gone before most people in Florida have even heard of it or the hard work of the people trying to save it. Emotionally, that really bothers me, because it is almost like it’s going extinct twice.”
Monitoring & Management
Each remaining population of wild Florida Grasshopper Sparrows is monitored.
