As the sun rose over the central Florida prairie on July 16, a significant event in conservation history occurred with the release of the 1,000th conservation-bred Florida grasshopper sparrow into the wild. This milestone took place at Avon Park Air Force Range, accompanied by nine other sparrows.
A decade ago, the Florida grasshopper sparrow population faced near extinction due to habitat loss and other threats. In response, several organizations including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, White Oak Conservation, Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida, and U.S. Air Force initiated a comprehensive conservation program.
“The recovery and release program diverted the extinction of the Florida grasshopper sparrow,” said Adrienne Fitzwilliam, lead sparrow research scientist at FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. “The success of such a considerable effort has been possible due to continued collaboration.” Significant resources have been allocated to this cause, including funds from the foundation’s “Conserve Wildlife” license plate.
Since May 2019, when releases began, the wild sparrow population has more than doubled. At Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area, breeding pairs increased from 11 in 2018 to at least 37 in 2023. Juvenile birds released into the wild not only survived but also mated successfully. Although these releases are not seen as a long-term solution, they provide time for partners to explore landscape-level solutions.
Avon Park Air Force Range was added as a release site in 2021. “The release of the 1,000th Florida grasshopper sparrow at Avon Park Air Force Range is a great example of the Air Force’s ability to both enhance our wildlife and natural resources on Department of Defense land while at the same time achieving our goal of providing sustainable and world-class military training,” said Dr. Kris Pitcher, natural resource manager at Avon Park Air Force Range.
“Learning how to breed Florida grasshopper sparrows in captivity and then how to successfully release them back into the landscape has taken a lot experimenting—a lot of trial-and-error,” said Larry Williams, state supervisor for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Florida. Insights gained from this project are aiding bird conservation efforts nationwide.
The breeding program now includes additional partners such as Avian Preservation and Education Conservancy, Santa Fe College, Brevard Zoo with support from Welaka National Fish Hatchery. “While more work needs to be done in the years ahead, we can be proud that our rearing and release programs have kept alive the distinct buzz of the Florida grasshopper sparrows on the prairies of central Florida,” stated Andrew Schumann from White Oak Conservation.
Besides expanding partnerships and efforts like nest protection, habitat conservation remains crucial for these birds’ survival. A key initiative is protecting DeLuca Preserve in Osceola County which houses one of their largest known breeding populations within its 6,000 acres designated for sparrows. “Conserving land is pivotal in saving the Florida grasshopper sparrow from extinction,” emphasized Andrew Walker, president & CEO of Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida.