A tiny, brown-speckled bird called a grasshopper sparrow is one of North America’s most endangered species and right now they’re fighting for survival.
Two decades ago, more than 1,000 of these birds thrived in the wild. But their population dwindled to as few as 80 birds when their habitat was threatened by development, predators, disease, and climate change.
The truth is, these birds are struggling to survive with climate change. Changes in precipitation and heavy downpours have threatened their low-lying nests, and their population is so small that a single weather event or disease could wipe them out completely.
But there is good news too. Thanks to the efforts of conservationists who implemented an unprecedented breeding and recovery program, they have now released over 1,000 birds into the wild and their population is starting to increase once again.