© 2024 Central Florida Public Media. All Rights Reserved.
90.7 FM Orlando • 89.5 FM Ocala
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Critically Endangered Florida Grasshopper Sparrows Take First Steps, Flaps Into The Wild

After opening the aviary, researchers monitor the Florida grasshopper sparrows from 100 meters away. Photo by Amy Green
After opening the aviary, researchers monitor the Florida grasshopper sparrows from 100 meters away. Photo by Amy Green

Video by Easton Underdahl

This is the sound of North America's most endangered bird.

[audio wav="https://www.wmfe.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/12346_fl-grasshopper-sparrow-buzz-call_amy.wav"][/audio]

Fewer than 80 Florida grasshopper sparrows remain on the Central Florida prairie. Now to boost their population researchers for the first time are releasing captive-bred sparrows in the wild.

90.7's environmental reporter Amy Green joined Juan Oteyza and Becky Schneider of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as they released some of the latest sparrows.

[gallery type="slideshow" link="none" size="full" ids="128899,128895,128898,128897"]

Amy Green covered the environment for WMFE until 2023. Her work included the 2020 podcast DRAINED.