Saltmarshes have long been in the way of “progress”. We’ve torn them out to plant crops, build houses, and drained them. Since they are designed to buffer the land behind them during periods of hurricanes or super high tide inundations, our changes have greatly diminished the beneficial effects we derive from them. And saltmarshes are the only home for a beautiful species of sparrow whose home is disappearing even more rapidly through rising seas.
Saltmarsh Sparrows are small, unobtrusive and excellent at hiding. They have perfectly adapted to living in the ups and downs of the waters in a salt marsh. Their tiny nests, imperceptible to the eye unless you know exactly where to look, are placed perfectly in line with where the highest tide should rise during the 28 day period between the day the female begins to build the nest, lays her eggs and the 9-10 days later the chicks leave the nest. It’s a super quick turnaround and she knows exactly when to start this process to safely get her chicks out of the nest before the waters rise again. At least under normal conditions.
With rising sea levels, Saltmarsh Sparrows are facing flooding far more frequently than before, making raising a family successfully, nearly impossible. Restoration of their home saltmarshes also helps protect our houses and property. Plus restoration of saltmarshes benefits countless other wildlife including Diamondback Terrain (turtles who also brave crossing busy streets to nest in dunes and then return to their saltmarsh homes); Osprey, Bald Eagles, herons, muskrats, otters, Marsh Hares; plus they serve as nurseries for flounder, drum, seatrout and other fish who use the safety of the saltmarsh to grow large enough to make it to their adult home in the sea.
This bird’s decline signals us saltmarshes are in trouble. With sea levels rising so rapidly, what can be done? Take a look at this compelling article from National Geographic for more information on these cryptic little sparrows, and the creative ways scientists are trying to resolve the nest-flooding issues plaguing these tiny birds.