Summary

  • Status in VT: Decreased by 75% (4 to 1 blocks). Greatest decreases in Southern Vermont Piedmont and Champlain Valley.
  • Data from other research: Franklin County Airport (1999-2004, 2007): 5 to 9 singing males annually; Camp Johnson (1999-2007): 3 to 11 singing males annually.
  • Conservation status: State rank S1B; SGCN-H, T
  • Other atlases: PA: 3%
  • VT’s role in North American range: VT is at the northern edge of the range.
  • Causes of change since first Atlas: Loss of grassland habitat to reforestation and suburban development; intensified agricultural practices including earlier and more frequent mowing, and conversion of pastures to row crops.
  • Management/Monitoring recommendations:  Maintain and create connectivity between populations or historically used habitat; delay cutting until 1 August, or limit first cutting of hayfields to dates earlier than 1 June, and second cutting to no earlier than 65 days after first cutting; airports can provide suitable habitat if mowed after 1 August.

First Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas (1976-1981)

Species Account

Second Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas (2003 – 2007)

Grasshopper Sparrow Map 1 Grasshopper Sparrow Table 1 Grasshopper Sparrow Table 2

Change in Distribution

mapkey Grasshopper Sparrow Map 2 Grasshopper Sparrow Table 3

Links

Vermont eBird

Encyclopedia of Life

All About Birds