(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species SPARROW, SEASIDE, CAPE SABLE
Species Id ESIS104003
Date 14 MAR 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - SPARROW, SEASIDE, CAPE SABLE
OTHER COMMON NAMES - SPARROW, SEASIDE, CAPE SABLE; SPARROW, CAPE SABLE;SPARROW and SEASIDE
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Birds
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - CHORDATA,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - AVES,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - PASSERIFORMES,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - EMBERIZIDAE,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - AMMODRAMUS,
SPECIES AND SSP - MARITIMUS, MIRABILIS
SCIENTIFIC NAME - AMMODRAMUS MARITIMUS MIRABILIS
AUTHORITY -
TAXONOMY REFERENCES -
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow
Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis (Howell, 1919)
KINGDOM: Animal GROUP: Bird
PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Aves
ORDER: Passeriformes FAMILY: Emberizidae
The Cape Sable seaside sparrow is a medium sized sparrow about
13-14 centimeters in length. The species has olive-gray upperparts
and the underparts are whitish with a streaked breast; yellow lores;
long bill, thick based and thin tipped; males and females are similar;
juveniles lighter in color and streaked. This race is green above and
whiter below than other races of seaside sparrows (01).
The Cape Sable seaside sparrow was originally described by Howell
as (Thryospiza mirabilis), a distinct species, based on plumage
characteristics and size. Later Griscom and Beecher considered it to
be a light colored race of the seaside sparrow (Ammospiza maritima).
In 1973 the Cape Sable sparrow was relegated to subspecific level,
Ammospiza maritima mirabilis, with the species scientific name
officially changed to Ammodramus maritimus in 1982 (02,03,04,05,06).
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species SPARROW, SEASIDE, CAPE SABLE
Species Id ESIS104003
Date 14 MAR 96
STATUS
Coded Status
Florida; Federal Endangered
Florida; Officially Listed
E: Federal Endangered
Federal Migratory
Non-consumptive recreational
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
U.S. STATUSES AND LAWS:
The Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis)
has been designated an Endangered species pursuant to the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (50 CFR 17.11; P.L. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884;
16 U.S.C. 1531-1540), as amended. The subspecies has this status
wherever found including the State of Florida. Critical Habitat has
been designated in Collier, Dade and Monroe Counties, FL (50 CFR
17.95(b)).
This subspecies is protected by the Lacey Act (P.L. 97-79, as
amended; 16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.) which makes it unlawful to import,
export, transport, sell, receive, acquire, or purchase any wild animal
(alive or dead including parts, products, eggs, or offspring):
(1) in interstate or foreign commerce if taken, possessed,
transported or sold in violation of any State law or
regulation; or
(2) if taken or possessed in violation of any U.S. law,
treaty, or regulation or in violation of Indian tribal law.
It is also unlawful to possess any wild animal (alive or dead
including parts, products, eggs, and offspring) within the U.S.
territorial or special maritime jurisdiction (as defined in
18 U.S.C. 7) that is taken, possessed, transported, or sold in
violation of any State law or regulation, foreign law, or Indian
tribal law.
The species is also protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
(16 U.S.C. 703-711 et seq.; 50 CFR 10.13).
RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL AGENCIES:
USFWS -Responsible for the management/recovery, listing, and
law enforcement/protection of this species.
DOD (COE) -Responsible for the law enforcement/protection of this
species with applicable State and Federal laws on
public land under their control. Also responsible for
management/recovery on Department of Defense lands.
NPS -Responsible for the law enforcement/protection of this
species with applicable State and Federal laws on
public lands under their control. Also responsible
for conservation (Nat. Park System Organic Act - 16
U.S.C. 1, 2-3)/management/recovery on National Park
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species SPARROW, SEASIDE, CAPE SABLE
Species Id ESIS104003
Date 14 MAR 96
Service lands. Taking, possessing, or disturbing of
Federally listed species is prohibited on NPS lands
(36 CFR 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3).
All Federal agencies have responsibility to ensure that any
action authorized, funded, or carried out by that agency is not likely
to jeopardize the continued existence of the species or result in the
destruction or adverse modification of Critical Habitat (50 CFR 402),
and to utilize their authorities to carry out programs for the
conservation of the species.
STATE STATUSES AND LAWS:
STATE: Florida
DESIGNATED STATUS: Endangered
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY: Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Comm.
STATE STATUTES: Article IV, Sec. 9, Florida Constitution,
372.072 Florida Statute Rule 39-27.03 to .05,
Title 39, Florida Annotated Code
INTERNATIONAL STATUSES, TREATIES, AND AGREEMENTS:
The Cape Sable seaside sparrow is listed in the Migratory Bird
Treaty Act and the ICUN Red Data Book. This species is also listed
by the Convention on Nature Protection and Wildlife Preservation in
the Western Hemisphere, 1970. The species is not listed in CITES.
ECONOMIC STATUSES:
The sparrow has no known negative economic value, however, there
is a positive recreational (non-consumptive) value for bird watchers.
67/03/11:32 FR 04001/ - Listing as Endangered
76/07/14:41 FR 28987/28989 - Proposed Critical Habitat
76/09/30:41 FR 43340/43358 - Republication of list
77/08/11:42 FR 40685/40690 - Final rule for Critical Habitat
85/04/05:50 FR 13708/13722 - Final rule revis. list of Mig. Birds
85/07/22:50 FR 29901/29909 - Five year review
Status - 2 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - TERRESTRIAL
TERRESTRIAL
INLAND AQUATIC
LAND USE -
Nonforested Wetland
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Palustrine EM5
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
The Cape Sable sparrow occurs in seasonally flooded interior
fresh to slightly brackish water marshes and prairies of southern
Florida. The habitat is a mixture of grasses, sedges and forbs.
The structure of the habitat is clumped, and dominated by muhly grass
(Muhlenbergia filipes), black-top sedge (Schoenus nigricans),
cordgrass (Spartina brakeri), and sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense). The
bunch type grasses and sedges range in height from 50-120 centimeters
and dominates both frequency and percent of plant cover. This habitat
area is referred to as the "Everglades" region of south Florida.
The habitat occurs on marl and organic soils with hydroperiods of
1-6 months. The extent and structure of the habitat varies depending
upon hydroperiod, soil depth, and fire history. Fire is a important
component in maintaining the habitat, but fires burning large portions
of the habitat can be harmful by disrupting nesting (07,08,09).
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species SPARROW, SEASIDE, CAPE SABLE
Species Id ESIS104003
Date 14 MAR 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
CARNIVORE
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Molluscs
General Arthropods
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species SPARROW, SEASIDE, CAPE SABLE
Species Id ESIS104003
Date 14 MAR 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species SPARROW, SEASIDE, CAPE SABLE
Species Id ESIS104003
Date 14 MAR 96
LIFE HISTORY
FOOD HABITS:
The Cape Sable sparrow is primarily insectivorus feeding on or
near the ground. The bird is a "gleaner" feeding mostly on insects
and spiders. Known food items include beetles, dragon fly nymphs,
parasitic wasps, flies, crickets, lepidopteran larave, amphipods, tiny
mollusks, and vegetable matter. Seasonal variation in food types and
abundance, and preferred food types, if any are not known (01,08,09).
HOME RANGE/TERRITORY:
The species is territorial with mating, nesting, and rearing of
the young occuring in a given area. Territories range in size from
0.3 to 6.8 hectares. There is a considerable overlap in territories
by adjacent pairs, suggesting that the defended area is centered
around the nest and is smaller than the overall home range territory.
Males appear to remain in or near the breeding territories throughout
the year and may maintain the same territory for up to 3 years. It
is unknown if the female and the young remain in or near the territory
after the breeding season (08,09).
PERIODICITY:
The species is diurnal with peak activity in early morning and
late afternoon. The sparrow is secretive throughout much of the year
spending most of the time in cover. The sparrow is most easily
observed during the breeding season when males sing from an exposed
perch (08,09).
MIGRATION PATTERNS:
The Cape Sable sparrow is a nonmigratory, sedentary species which
may spend its entire life in a given area (08,09).
COVER/SHELTER REQUIREMENTS:
This species is dependent upon plant structure and plant cover of
the extensive interior marshes and prairies of southern Florida.
The sparrow appears not to use areas with trees and shrubs. Because
of its secretive nature dense cover is required (01,08,09).
REPRODUCTIVE SITE REQUIREMENTS:
The nest is usually placed in the grass tussock 6 to 37
centimeters above the ground and constructed of woven coarse grass,
lined with finer grades of the same material. The nest can be either
dome or cup-shaped in design, and concealed within the cover of the
grass tussock making it difficult to find. Nests have been found in
muhly grass, black-top sedge, sawgrass, cordgrass, and salt grass (08,
09,10).
REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS:
The breeding season extends from late February to early August.
Known limits of egg dates are March 29 and July 7. Sexual maturity
occurs during the first year with breeding ages of 1-5 years old.
The species is multi-brooded having usually 2 or 3 nestings a season.
Pairs may either remain together throughout the nesting season, as
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species SPARROW, SEASIDE, CAPE SABLE
Species Id ESIS104003
Date 14 MAR 96
well as for consecutive years, or may change mates during the breeding
season. Clutch size is usually 3 to 4 eggs with an incubation period
of 11 to 13 days (08,09,10).
PARENTAL CARE:
The female incubates the eggs while the male defends the nesting
area. After hatching, the altricial young spend 9 to 10 days in the
nest. On leaving the nest the young are unable to fly and spend an
additional 10 to 20 days on the natal territory. Both parents attend
the young during this time. At about 2 to 3 weeks after hatching the
young can make short flights (08,09).
POPULATION BIOLOGY:
The Cape Sable sparrow is known to live up to 5-7 years. This
species has a high reproductive rate being triple brooded with
clutches of 4 eggs each brood. In optimal habitat, population
densities can reach 20 pairs/40 hectares. Factors such as food,
predation, competition, or nesting material availability do not appear
to be limiting. However, perturbations to the habitat caused by fires
can greatly reduce the population (08,09).
SPECIES INTERRELATIONSHIPS:
There is no known symbiotic relationship concerning this species.
No other information is available on this subject.
OTHER LIFE HISTORY DESCRIPTORS:
No other information is available on this subject.
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species SPARROW, SEASIDE, CAPE SABLE
Species Id ESIS104003
Date 14 MAR 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
RESULT MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Off-Road Vehicles
Beneficial Maintaining/Controlling Water Flow
Beneficial Developing/maintaining/protecting wetlands
Beneficial Controlling water levels
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Mining
Beneficial Maintaining undisturbed/undeveloped areas
Beneficial Restricting/regulating human use of habitats
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Pesticide Use
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Herbicide Use
Beneficial Controlling/Restricting Agricultural Practice
Beneficial Reforestation
Beneficial Suppressing wildfire
Beneficial Prescribed/controlled burning of habitat
Beneficial Maintaining Early Stages of Succession
Beneficial Controlling/Removing Nonnative Vegetation
Adverse Off Road Vehicles
Existing Off Road Vehicles
Adverse
Existing
Adverse Rural Residential/Industrial Areas
Existing Rural Residential/Industrial Areas
Adverse Draining wetlands, marshes, ponds, lakes
Existing Draining wetlands, marshes, ponds, lakes
Adverse Strip mining
Existing Strip mining
Adverse Exotic/Feral/Introducted Species
Existing Exotic/Feral/Introducted Species
Adverse
Existing
Adverse Vegetation Composition Changes
Existing Vegetation Composition Changes
Adverse Suppressing wildfire
Existing Suppressing wildfire
Adverse Fire
Existing Fire
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
Changes in the population status of the Cape Sable sparrow
have been the result of both natural and man-caused alterations to the
habitat. Natural factors such as hurricanes and wildfires (with
associated fire control activities) have in the past reduced or
eliminated sparrow populations on Cape Sable and in the Big Cypress
NP. In addition, habitat alteration through drainage of wetland has
allowed the invasion of brush and exotic trees into the prairies in
the eastern part of the species range. Current and future threats to
the sparrow population appear to be habitat alterations as a result of
hurricanes, both natural and man-caused fires, drainage, wetland
filling, and development. The greatest threat is to the eastern
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species SPARROW, SEASIDE, CAPE SABLE
Species Id ESIS104003
Date 14 MAR 96
portion of the population where loss of habitat due to drainage,
frequent fires, invasion of exotic trees, off-road vehicles, and
agricultural and urban development is occurring (07,08,09). Other
factors that may contribute to stress on this species include
recreational activities, hunting activities and oil exploration on the
National Park Service administered lands. All of these factors and
threats are especially detrimental if conducted at sensitive times of
the year for the sparrow (i.e., nesting season).
APPROVED PLAN:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1983. Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow
Recovery Plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta, Georgia.
52 pp.
The Recovery Plan for the Cape Sable seaside sparrow has
identified the following three objectives:
(1) Monitor distribution and abundance.
The population needs to be monitored yearly so that any decline
can be reversed as soon as possible. Baseline data, i.e., current
distribution and abundance, are available but methodology needs to be
standardized. Disturbances during nesting season such as fires,
oil company activities, aerial sparying, and ORV activities should be
monitored.
(2) At a minimum maintain present distribution and abundance.
Maintenance of the sparrow in the various population centers
requires different approaches. Where possible, the seaside sparrow
should be allowed and encouraged to recolonize formerly inhabited
sites. In general, maintenance and/or restoration of the Cape Sable
seaside sparrow in all areas will involve fire management to maintain
early stages of succession, water management, control of exotic
vegetation, mining/minerals management, agricultural restrictions,
controlling both agricultural and other development, and attention to
the use of ORV's in Critical Habitat.
(3) Conduct biological studies.
To properly manage habitat and to account for the effects of
management action and natural events, it is necessary to conduct
certain studies on the species. Overall, the goals of such studies
are to understand limiting factors and the extent that the habitat
characteristics limit expansion of the population.
Management Practices - 2 (DRAFT) - References
Species SPARROW, SEASIDE, CAPE SABLE
Species Id ESIS104003
Date 14 MAR 96
References
***** REFERENCES FOR ALL NARRATIVES EXCEPT N-OCCURRENCE *****
01 Howell, A.H. 1932. Florida birdlife. Coward-McCann, New York,
NY.
02 Howell, A.H. 1919. Description of a new seaside sparrow from
Florida. Auk 36:86-87
03 Griscom, L. 1944. A second revision of the seaside sparrows.
Louisiana State University, Occ. Pap. Mus. Zool. 19:313-328.
04 Beecher, W.J. 1955. Late pleistocene isolation of salt marsh
sparrows. Ecology 36:23-28.
05 Eisenmann, E, (chairman). 1973. Thirty-second supplement to the
American Ornithologists Union (AOU) check-list of North American
birds. Auk 90: 411-419.
06 AOU 1982. Thirty-fourth supplement to the AOU check-list
of North American birds. Auk 99(3) suppl.
07 Bass, O. and J. Kushlan. 1982. Status of the Cape Sable sparrow.
South Florida Research Center Report T-672.
08 Kushlan, J., O. Bass, L. Loope, W. Robertson, P. Rosendahl, and
D. Taylor. 1982. Cape Sable sparrow management plan. South
Florida Research Center Report M-660.
09 Werner, H.W. 1975. The biology of the Cape Sable sparrow. Rept.
to the USFWS. Everglades National Park; Homestead, FL.
10 Stimson, L.A. 1968. Cape Sable sparrow. In A.C. Bent (O.L.
Austin, Jr., ed.), Life histories of North American cardinals,
grosbeaks, buntings, towhees, finches, sparrows, and allies. U.S.
National Museum Bull. 237:859-868.
***** REFERENCES FOR N-OCCURRENCE NARRATIVE ONLY *****
01 Bass, O. and J. Kushlan. 1982. Status of the Cape Sable sparrow.
South Florida Research Center Report No. T-672.
02 Kushlan, J., O. Bass, L. Loope, W. Robertson, P. Rosendahl and
D. Taylor. 1982. Cape Sable Sparrow Management Plan. South
Florida Research Center Report No. M-660.
References - 1