Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina

Breeding Chipping Sparrows are most frequently encountered near suburban and rural residences surrounded by large mowed lawns. Within these habitats, ornamental shrubbery provides nest sites while the adults forage on the lawns. Parks, cemeteries, golf courses, nurseries, and orchards provide similar habitats and are also regularly occupied by these sparrows. They are seldom found far from residences, although occasional pairs inhabit pine planta- tions, wooded campgrounds, grazed woodlands where most undergrowth has been eliminated, and hedgerows adjacent to heavily grazed pastures. Given their close association with residential yards and similar habitats, Chipping Sparrows are currently widely distributed summer residents within Ohio. The Atlas Project produced records from every county and 759 priority blocks (99.4% of the statewide total). They were missed in only five blocks in the Till Plain region, either in densely populated urban areas or heavily farmed areas where most lands were intensively cultivated. On Breeding Bird Surveys, these sparrows are most numerous on the Allegheny Plateau, Alvin E. Staffan particularly in the glaciated counties. Their numbers decline somewhat in the Lake Plain region, while they are least numerous in the Till Plain and Illinoian Till Plain regions. placed along lateral branches rather than near the trunk. Nest Chipping Sparrows undoubtedly increased as Ohio was construction has been noted as early as April 7 (Trautman 1940), settled during the 19th century. By the last decades of that but is normally most prevalent between April 20 and May 10. century, they were abundant summer residents at most localities Trautman (1940) discovered a nest with eggs as early as April (Wheaton 1882, Jones 1903). While Campbell (1968) indicated 16, but most first clutches are produced during the first half of their numbers have been declining in the Toledo area since the May. Fledglings have appeared by May 15, but most first broods early 1900s, these trends were not evident in most portions of the fledge between June 1 and June 20 (Campbell 1968, Trautman state during the 1930s. Hicks (1935) described them as common 1940). Chipping Sparrows regularly raise two broods annually to abundant residents in every county,but noted they were most and may raise three broods in the southern counties. The latest numerous along the Allegheny Plateau. Within the unglaciated published egg date is August 1 (Braund 1938), although reports counties, the largest numbers were found north through Hock- of nest construction through July 24 indicate some clutches may ing, Athens, and Washington counties but they were still fairly be found into mid–August. Recently fledged young are regularly numerous on the remainder of the plateau (Hicks 1937). observed through August 10, and some broods do not fledge until the second half of August (Campbell 1968). During subsequent decades, numbers of Chipping Sparrows slowly declined throughout the farmlands of western and central Breeding Chipping Sparrows were fairly easy to confirm Ohio as a result of habitat loss (Peterjohn 1989a). This trend with records from 585 priority blocks. The “30” code was probably continued into the 1980s. Similar declines have not been used in 250 blocks, primarily in the Unglaciated Plateau (110 apparent elsewhere in the state, although short–term reductions in blocks), Till Plain (68 blocks), and Glaciated Plateau (38 numbers were evident following winters with severe weather. In blocks) regions. Confirmation was also provided by active general, Chipping Sparrow populations increased within the nests in 139 blocks, adults carrying food for young in 135 Great Lakes region between 1965 and 1979 despite local declines blocks, and 52 reports of recently fledged young. Probable in some of these states (Robbins, C. S., et al. 1986). breeders constituted most of the remaining records, primarily territorial males and pairs in suitable habitats. Chipping Sparrow nests are normally placed at heights of 3–8 feet in shrubs, small trees, and vines, although a few nests have been as high as 35 feet in large trees (Trautman 1940, Williams 1950). Coniferous trees and shrubs provide preferred nest sites whenever they are available. Their neatly woven nests tend to be

338 Blocks Special Areas Other Observations Confirmed Probable Possible

Analysis of Block Data by Physiographic Region Summary of Total Blocks % Regional Ave. # Individ Breeding Status Physiographic Blocks with with % per BBS Route No. of Blocks in Which Region Surveyed Data Data for Ohio (1982–1987) Species Recorded Lake Plain 95 95 100.0 12.5 11.8 Till Plain 271 266 98.2 35.1 6.0 Total 759 99.4% Ill. Till Plain 46 46 100.0 6.1 7.8 Confirmed 585 77.1% Glaciated Plateau 140 140 100.0 18.5 19.4 Probable 164 21.6% Unglaciated Plateau 212 212 100.0 27.9 14.5 Possible 10 1.3%

339 Chipping Sparrow