You can use it for research or reference. To access the current site visit current site.
The Vesper Sparrow is an abundant species, reaching its highest densities in the southern Prairie Provinces but is also found in suitable grassland and agricultural habitats across much of southern Canada. The Breeding Bird Survey shows that, on average, the national population has experienced a moderate decrease since 1970. However, the core of the population in the Prairie Potholes Bird Conservation Region has shown little change since 1970. The affinis subspecies of southwestern British Columbia was assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as Endangered and is limited to about five breeding pairs. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
Likely more abundant today than before the European settlement period, this species has benefited from the conversion of forests in the east to agricultural land (Jones and Cornely 2002). The stable Prairie population may be related to increased planted cover (McMaster and Davis 2001) and to replacement of forest with agricultural land in parts of the west. Decreasing populations in some areas are likely the result of changes to farming practices and reversion of marginal farmlands to forestlands (Jones and Cornely 2002). The affinis subspecies has disappeared from some historic breeding locations, although it was likely never common in British Columbia (COSEWIC 2006g). For information on the legal status of this species under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) and to view available recovery documents, see the SARA Registry.
Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.