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Investigating Differential Range-wide and Patch-level Winter-Habitat Use for Ipswich Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis princeps)

Chance Hines1,*, Laura Duval1, Bryan D. Watts1, Fletcher M. Smith2, Bill Hulslander3, Rebecca J. Jardine4, and Amy K. Whitear5

1Center for Conservation Biology, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23185. 2Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, Non-game Conservation Section, Brunswick, GA 31520. 3National Parks Service, Assateague Island National Seashore, Berlin, MD 21811. 4Acadia University, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada. 5McTavish Resource and Management Consultants, Surrey, BC V3S 3M2, Canada. *Corresponding author.

Northeastern Naturalist, Volume 31, Issue 4 (2024): 498–516

First published early online: 31 December 2024

Abstract
Habitat segregation is a common phenomenon among migratory songbirds during the non-breeding periods of their life cycles, and conservation practices that fail to account for sex or age-based segregation can be ineffective. We evaluated whether segregation occurred among wintering Passerculus sandwichensis princeps (Ipswich Sparrow) latitudinally by capturing birds throughout their winter range and at the patch level by radio-tracking a subset of Ipswich Sparrows on Assateague Island, MD. While sex and age ratios remained similar throughout their winter range, habitat use varied among tracked individuals. The majority of tracked Sparrows were found in areas where both grass and forb cover were available, yet males tended to inhabit locations with additional shrub cover and exhibited larger estimated home ranges than females (mean 50% minimum convex polygon = 2.36 for males vs 0.77 ha for females). Males and adults were more likely to be observed in fore dunes than females and juveniles, which were more likely to be observed in secondary dunes than adults. Distance between the active beach and the nearest vegetated dune influenced seed availability and bird use. Juveniles were located furthest inland where the plants Diodia teres (Poor Joe), Oenothera humifusa (Seabeach Evening Primrose), and Cenchrus tribuloides (Dune Sandbur) were most common. Adults were located nearer the vegetated dune edge, as were the plants Ammophila breviligulata (American Beachgrass), Solidago sempervirens (Seaside Goldenrod), and Panicum amarum (Bitter Panicum). Beach plantings conducted as part of dune-restoration efforts have often been restricted to American Beachgrass, but we suggest incorporating a wider variety of plants to improve habitat for all Ipswich Sparrow age and sex classes.

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