Demography and breeding behavior of the cape Sable seaside sparrow.

Lockwood, Julie

The Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis) is an endangered subspecies endemic to the marl prairies of the southern Everglades ecosystem. Its current range lies entirely within the federally protected lands of Everglades National Park (ENP) and Big Cypress National Preserve. Despite this level of protection, this subspecies faces threats from alterations in regional fire and flood regimes that have rendered reaches of habitat unsuitable for sparrow breeding. Understanding basic aspects of the sparrow's breeding biology, and how demographic characters vary according to fire and hydrology, are necessary for effective long-term management. This report summarizes efforts to obtain this information during the 2000 breeding season. The contents of this report are best viewed as a continuation of field research begun in 1994. Each season we have added to our knowledge of the sparrow while responding to specific management needs as they arise. This report was written for readers familiar with these developments. For readers not familiar with continuing issues in the management of the sparrow, past work and concurrent investigations, see the following web page . Several references within the ensuing pages can be found at this web address. Specifically, I have given only cursory background information concerning routine field methodologies (e.g., finding and monitoring nests) as they have not changed since this web site was first published in 1998. Any new investigations include a complete accounting of methods and statistics used.