Is the U.S. Family: New World Sparrows: Habitat: Salt marshes. Fish and Wildlife Service jeopardizing the health of Florida Bay to save 100 to 200 endangered birds? The Cape Sable seaside sparrow isn't nicknamed the “Goldilocks bird” for nothing: In order for this little sparrow to survive, its habitat conditions have to be just right. Cape Sable seaside sparrow has the distinction of being the last new bird species described in the continental United States prior to its reclassification to subspecies status. 1) the loss of functional Cape Sable seaside sparrow habitat, as a result of current and past water management practices, and the invasion of woody and exotic plant species, is eliminated; Species as a whole has declined owing to destruction of coastal marshes. Although the original range of this nonmigratory subspecies likely included all suitable freshwater and brackish water marsh habitats in south Florida, the current known … "Dusky" Seaside Sparrow became extinct in 1987; "Cape Sable" form is localized and vulnerable, as are some other populations. The Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis) is a federally-endangered subspecies of seaside sparrow with a distribution restricted to marl prairies found in the Florida Everglades.The subspecies’ limited distribution, small population size and threats to its habitat resulted in its listing under the Endangered Species Act in 1967. Though the bird has evolved to live in harmony with periodic fires and flooding, fires must be timed perfectly or else they'll threaten reproduction, and water levels must always be at an ideal level — or male birds will stop singing. At the Nov. 14 meeting of the South Florida Water Management District Governing Board at … FORT MYERS — The tiny Cape Sable seaside sparrow is the subject of a big debate. The restricted range of the Cape Sable seaside sparrow led to its initial listing in 1969. Everglades National Park is home to one of eight remaining subspecies of Seaside Sparrow, the Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis), which is named for the southernmost point of land in the continental United States.