Superintendent Dan Kimball has announced the results of the Everglades National Park annual Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow survey. The 2007 overall population estimate for this endangered bird showed a small increase over 2006 numbers. The population increase resulted entirely from growth in the largest subpopulation. The other five subpopulations either remained constant or decreased in size (Table 1).
Native to south Florida, Cape Sable Seaside Sparrows occur in six separate subpopulations on State and National Park Service lands. In 2007, the total population was estimated to contain 3,184 individuals, a small increase over the 2006 estimate of 3,088, but substantially lower than the 6,600 individuals estimated during the period from 1981-1992. While some variation in population size is normal for this species, the decline that occurred after 1992 is atypical.
Subpopulation A, located west of Shark River Slough in Everglades National Park decreased from an estimated 112 birds in 2006 to 64 birds this year. In the past, this subpopulation comprised more than 50% of the total population. Biologists estimated that there were more than 2,600 birds during the period from 1981-1992; however, from 1993-1995, the size of this subpopulation fell dramatically to 240 birds. After 1995, the population increased slightly, but no substantial recovery has been observed. This year’s estimate of 64 birds represents the second lowest estimate on record.
Subpopulations B and E are currently the largest, with 2,512 and 560 birds, respectively. The size of subpopulation B, located on the east side of Shark River Slough and south of the main park road, increased from 2,080 individuals last year to 2,512 in 2007. However, subpopulation E had a 20% decrease in numbers from the previous year.
Subpopulation C exhibited a 70% decrease in size from last year’s estimate of 160 birds, down now to 48 birds. Prescribed burning activities that were initiated outside and to the east of Everglades National Park are believed to be the likely reason for this decline. In the spring of 2007, a prescribed fire jumped the L-31 North Canal on the park border into the park and burned a large portion of the habitat in this subpopulation.
Subpopulations D and F are of particular concern to park biologists. No birds were located in either subpopulation during this year’s routine survey. Three birds were, however, detected in subpopulation D in the course of more intensive follow-up searches.
Despite the changes described in some of the subpopulations, the overall status of the sparrow did not change appreciably in 2007. The National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other partners will continue to monitor, study, and provide recommendations to ensure the recovery of this endangered species in its natural habitat.
Contact: Sonny Bass or David Hallac (305-224-4200)
Table 1. Population estimates for the Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow for 1981 and 1992-2007. Estimates are obtained by multiplying the number of surveyed birds by 16.
Subpopulation
Year
A
B
C
D
E
F
TOTAL
1981
2,688
2,352
432
400
672
112
6,656
1992
2,608
3,184
48
112
592
32
6,576
1993
432
2,464
0
96
320
0
3,312
1994
80
2,224
NS
NS
112
NS
2,416
1995
240
2,128
0
0
352
0
2,720
1996
384
1,888
48
80
208
16
2,624
1997
272
2,832
48
48
832
16
4,048
1998
192
1,808
80
48
912
16
3,056
1999
400
2,048
144
176
768
16
3,552
2000
448
1,824
112
64
1,040
0
3,488
2001
128
2,128
96
32
848
32
3,264
2002
96
1,904
112
0
576
16
2,704
2003
128
2,368
96
0
592
32
3,216
2004
16
2,784
128
0
640
16
3,584
2005
80
2,272
80
48
576
32
3,088
2006
112
2,080
160
0
704
32
3,088
2007
64
2,512
48
0
560
0
3,184
NS = Not Surveyed
-ENP-
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
