Baird's Sparrow: The Last of Audubon's Birds
 John
James Audubon, the great painter and naturalist of the 1800’s
was responsible for the discovery of this species by Western scientists.
In fact, of all the birds he described as new to science, Baird’s
Sparrow was the last. The birds were noted first in North Dakota
in 1843, were not seen again until 1872 and it was only in the
following year that the first nest was described. This enigmatic
and difficult to find sparrow is largely poorly known except for
its close association with North American prairies. Like so many
grassland species, it was once considered among the most common
of prairie species. Today, it is rare and declining. In fact,
the recent Christmas bird count surveys done by the National Audubon
Society (December 2002-January 2003) found less than two dozen
birds on 8 counts (out of a total of over 1,900 counts). The species
is currently listed as endangered or threatened in two provinces
of Canada and in New Mexico and Arizona. What happened?
Destruction of grassland is the primary reason. The species nests
to the north from southern Canada to Montana and the Dakotas and
winters from southeast Arizona to northern Mexico. Based on recent
reports, it seems that Otero Mesa is important to the species,
as a resting place in migration and it is not impossible that
they would winter on the mesa in some years. This species is tied
in closely with healthy grasslands. As native grasslands have
disappeared, been modified or grazed without rest, this species
will decline and eventually disappear forever. As a resting area
and possibly as a wintering site in some years, Otero Mesa is
vital to the continued survival of this species. It would be a
sad commentary on the times if, 160 years after Audubon described
this species, we sat by and watched it slowly blink out. Protecting
Otero Mesa will help prevent that.
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