Fledgling Bachman’s Sparrows in a longleaf pine ecosystem: survival, movements, and habitat selection

Bachman’s Sparrow is a species of conservation concern throughout many parts of its breeding range and is strongly associated with the fire-dependent longleaf pine ecosystems in the southeastern United States. In general, Bachman’s Sparrow requires prescribed fire application approximately once every two to three years to promote an open understory dominated by herbaceous vegetation, with patches of low woody shrubs and regenerating trees.

Figure 1. Prescribed fire application removes litter and dead vegetation, while preventing the establishment of a woody vegetation in the understory and midstory.

Figure 2. Longleaf pine forests are characterized by a herbaceous understory, an open midstory, and mature longleaf pine.

The fledgling life stage has received relatively little attention for Bachman’s Sparrow, yet is vital to understanding the full-annual cycle. We attached radio-transmitters to fledgling Bachman’s Sparrow in south central North Carolina and monitored until independence of adult care.

Figure 3. Bachman’s Sparrow nests were located during incubation the nestling life stages. The day of fledgling, we captured 1-3 nestling per nest and attached a VHF radio transmitter.

Figure 4. Fledglings were re-located using VHF radio-transmitters once daily, confirming status and documenting movement.

Fledgling survival was approximately 0.31, with snakes being the most commonly identified predator. Fledgling Bachman’s Sparrow movement was restricted within the adult territory and fledglings selected micro-habitat with greater grass, shrub, and forb cover, and less bare ground than was available in the territory.

The research was recently published in the Journal of Field Ornithology:

Fish, A.C., DePerno, C.S., Schillaci, J.M. and Moorman, C.E. (2020), Fledgling Bachman’s Sparrows in a longleaf pine ecosystem: survival, movements, and habitat selection. Journal of Field Ornitholology. doi:10.1111/jofo.12345

Guest post by:

Alexander C. Fish
https://afish0.wixsite.com/wildlife
Twitter: @AlexIsOutside

Fledgling Bachman’s Sparrows in a longleaf pine ecosystem: survival, movements, and habitat selection