Here’s another winter treat from earlier this week – a Grasshopper Sparrow! This bird should have been spending its holidays wintering in the southern U.S. or Central America. However, our friend Paul Fusco spotted this little one feeding in open grass along a trail. This was before the major snowfall on Thursday, and conditions have only worsened. We put some seed out for it that the bird was enjoying at the time.
Hopefully it kept moving south before the latest storm and found refuge in other locations like this. Grasshopper Sparrows are another grasslands species with a population that has dropped precipitously throughout much of its range in the last several decades. RTPI has contributed to survey and monitoring efforts for the species in the last several years in Chautauqua County, and we hope our conservation work continues to help promote and eventually provide more habitat for Grasshopper Sparrows.
Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
