IPSWICH SPARROW Passerculus princeps (Maynard) 



Order: PASSERIFORMES Family: FRINGILLIDAE 



Distinguishing characteristics : A streaked, sandy-colored sparrow living in the sand 

 dunes . 



Present distribution : Breeds on Sable Island off Nova Scotia. Winters among sand dunes 

 along Atlantic coast from Sable Island south to southern Georgia. 



Former distribution : Same as present. 



Status : Vulnerable because oil exploitation in its limited habitat on a small breeding 

 island. Limited to narrow belt of Atlantic coast sand dunes, particularly the outer dunes, 

 for winter habitat. Reported in recent years to be less common on wintering grounds than 

 formerly. The bulk of the population probably winters from New Jersey to Virginia 

 (Stobo and McLaren 1971) . 



Estimated numbers : McLaren estimated a breeding population on Sable Island of 4,000 

 birds nesting in 280 hectares of habitat in 1967. 



Breeding rate in the wild : 4 or 5 eggs per set. 



Reasons for decline : Reduction in size of breeding area by progressive washing away 

 of already very small Sable Island (Dwight, 1895 and Erskine, 1964). Interference with 

 winter habitat by residential development along the Atlantic coast beaches . 



Protective measures already taken : Establishment of Chincoteague, Back Bay, Pea 

 Island, Cape Romain, Blackboard Island, Wolf Island, and Tybee National Wildlife Refuges, 

 and of Cape Cod, Asateague Island, and Cape Hatteras National Seashores will assure 

 continuation of Ipswich sparrow sand dune wintering habitat in these places. 



Measures proposed : Setting aside of additional national seashore areas and national 

 wildlife refuges along the Atlantic coast and encouraging preservation of sand dunes 

 in natural condition on properties under private ownership . Establishing a refuge for 

 this species on Sable Island by Canadian Government. 



Number in captivity : None known . 



Breeding potential in captivity : Good . 



References : 



Dwight, J. , Jr. 1895. The Ispwich sparrow (Ammodramus princeps Maynard) 



and its summer home. Memoirs of the Nuttall Ornithological Club. No. 11. 56 pp. 

 McLaren, I. A. 1968. Censuses of Ipswich sparrow on Sable Island Can. Field 



Nat. 82:148-150. 

 . 1969. Ipswich sparrow and its island home, Canadian Audubon, 



Nov. -Dec. 1969:134-140. 

 Stobo, W. T. and I*. A. McLaren. 1971 Late winter distribution of the Ipswich 



sparrow. Amer . Birds. 25:941-944. 



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