U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Status Assessment and Conservation Plan for the Henslow’s Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) ©Jean Iron 2009 Status Assessment and Conservation Plan for the Henslow’s Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) Version 1.0 2012 prepared by Tom Cooper U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Migratory Birds 5600 American Blvd. West – Suite 950 Bloomington, MN 55437 [email protected] Recommended Citation Cooper, T.R. (Plan Coordinator). 2012. Status Assessment and Conservation Plan for the Henslow’s Sparrow ( Ammodramus henslowii). Version 1.0. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bloomington, Minnesota. 126 pp. Cover photo courtesy of Jean Iron Acknowledgements I wish to thank the numerous contributors from state conservation agencies, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offices, universities, and private conservation organizations that provided information used in developing this plan and reviewed earlier drafts. I especially thank those who attended the Henslow’s Sparrow Workshop held in Minneapolis in March, 2007 (see list of participants in Appendix A). Parts of the plan, especially the natural history and state status assessment sections, were based largely on the Henslow’s Sparrow Status Assessment completed by Lori Pruitt for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1996. I updated the sections she prepared by including research published after 1996. Completion of the plan would not have been possible without the guidance, support, and input provided by Tom Will, Steve Lewis, Katie Koch, Jessica Piispanen, and Bob Russell (all U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees). Funding for this project was provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Migratory Bird Management through the Survey, Monitoring, and Assessment (SMA) program. —TRC Note Unforeseen circumstances delayed final release of this Conservation Action Plan, with the result that some assessments and analyses are slightly out of date as of 2012. All data presented in the plan were the most current available as of June 2007. Some analyses have been revised since 2007—e.g., predicted losses of CRP have been updated with actual figures—and notations in the text or on figures indicate where that has been the case. Rather than delay publication further by producing a thoroughly updated assessment, we thought that Henslow's Sparrow conservation would be better served by publishing this document as is in the hopes that it would inspire the present generation of grassland bird researchers and conservationists to take the next giant leap forward. Table of Contents I. Executive Summary ............................................................................................................... 1 II. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 2 III. Description of Target Population ........................................................................................ 3 A. Range ................................................................................................................................... 3 B. Habitat .................................................................................................................................. 5 C. Breeding Distribution ........................................................................................................... 8 D. Winter Distribution ............................................................................................................ 12 E. Spatial Extent of Action Plan ............................................................................................. 14 IV. Population Status .............................................................................................................. 15 A. Population Trend ................................................................................................................ 15 B. Legal and Priority Status .................................................................................................... 17 C. Known or Suspected Limiting Factors and Threats ........................................................... 21 V. Natural History ................................................................................................................... 25 A. Migration ............................................................................................................................ 25 B. Reproduction ...................................................................................................................... 25 C. Food Habits ........................................................................................................................ 28 VI. Population Objectives ....................................................................................................... 29 VII. Henslow’s Sparrow Conservation Action Items ............................................................. 31 A. Breeding Range Action Items ............................................................................................ 31 B. Winter Range Action Items ................................................................................................ 38 VIII. Strategic Conservation for Henslow’s Sparrows ........................................................... 42 IX. Conclusions and Next Steps: ............................................................................................ 47 X. State Status Assessment .................................................................................................... 49 XI. Literature Cited ............................................................................................................... 111 Appendix A. Participants attending the Henslow’s Sparrow Workshop .............................. 125 Appendix B. Bibliography of State Wildlife Action Plans .................................................. 126 I. Executive Summary The Henslow’s Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) breeds locally throughout the northeastern United States (U.S.), Midwestern U.S., and into southern Ontario; and it winters in coastal states from Texas east to Florida and north to southern North Carolina. Research indicates that the species requires large patches of grassland, with dense vegetation and a well-developed litter layer for breeding and grassland habitats, often associated with longleaf pine forests during wintering periods. Analyses of available data show range-wide population declines from the late 1960s through the mid-1980s, primarily caused by habitat loss and fragmentation. Stakeholder concern over population declines resulted in the species receiving special conservation status throughout its range at both the state and national level. Since the mid-1980s, the population has stabilized and has shown growth over the past 10-15 years. Although the population is increasing as a whole, regional populations are still declining, and significant habitat threats exist throughout the species range. Because of past and present concerns for the species, a Henslow’s Sparrow Conservation Plan Workshop was held in March 2007 to get stakeholder input for developing a comprehensive Henslow’s Sparrow Conservation Plan that will guide future conservation efforts. At the workshop, participants discussed developing population goals and identifying conservation priorities for both the breeding and wintering range of the species. Participants developed population goals based on the current distribution of the species, population indices derived from the North American Breeding Bird Survey, and goals set by Partners in Flight as part of the North American Landbird Conservation Plan. They also developed conservation actions containing research, education, and management components for the breeding and wintering range. The goals for breeding and wintering ground actions are presented below (see text for more detail). Goals for Breeding Ground Actions identified in the plan are: . Determine the current status and distribution of the Henslow’s Sparrow throughout its breeding range. Improve our understanding of Henslow’s Sparrow population demographics and how they are affected by differing habitat management regimes and landscape changes across the species breeding range. Protect, restore, maintain, and manage grassland habitats that are needed to sustain a stable or increasing Henslow’s Sparrow population. Cooperate with non-traditional partners to create and manage habitat for breeding grassland birds including the Henslow’s Sparrow. Goals for Wintering Ground Actions identified in the plan are: . Assess the current status and distribution of wintering Henslow’s Sparrows, as well as, the distribution of important wintering habitat. Maintain or increase the current use of prescribed fire to manage longleaf pine savanna habitat for wintering Henslow’s Sparrows. Protect, manage, and restore longleaf pine savanna habitat for wintering populations of Henslow’s Sparrows. Henslow’s Sparrow Conservation Plan — Version 1.0 1 . Improve our understanding of the connectivity between breeding and wintering areas. Actions identified in the plan will likely benefit other grassland birds requiring similar habitat conditions and facing similar threats. Therefore, participants at the Henslow’s Sparrow Workshop recommended forming an Eastern Grassland Bird Working Group to foster partnerships benefitting the entire suite of grassland birds found in the eastern United States and Canada. II. Introduction The Henslow’s Sparrow