3.3 Birds
Te Bachman’s Sparrow is closely associated with dense, herbaceous ground cover and is therefore well-suited as a primary indicator of a healthy Longleaf Pine ecosystem that is managed with frequent prescribed burning. Recent studies have made signifcant prog- ress towards determining the current distribution and habitat requirements of this species in North Carolina (Taillie et al. in review, 2015) . Te Sandhills region contains the most contiguous habitat, specifcally the Longleaf Pine forests of Fort Bragg and Sandhills Game Land, and was found to support the highest densities of sparrows. In
Bachman’s Sparrow (Jef Marcus NCWRC)
addition, sparrows were found throughout the southern Coastal Plain but were more widely distributed on or near large public lands such as Croatan National Forest, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Holly Shelter Game Land, and the Green Swamp Preserve. Continued eforts to maintain fre return intervals of less than four years, promote herba- ceous ground cover, and restore fre-suppressed forests will help to maintain and expand Bachman’s Sparrow populations (Taillie et al. 2015) . Furthermore, Bachman’s Sparrow occu- pancy was found to be highly infuenced by the amount of suitable habitat available within three kilometers, underscoring the importance of habitat connectivity (Taillie et al. 2015) .
Henlsow’s Sparrow is considered one of the most vulnerable nongame species found in eastern North America (Hunter et al. 2001a) . It is currently designated as a species of state special concern in North Carolina, and the NC Nongame Wildlife Advisory Committee Scientifc Council on Birds has recom- mended that it be elevated to a state status of threatened. Tey are known to reliably breed at only two locations in the south- eastern United States, both of which occur in eastern North Carolina: Voice of America (VOA) sites A and B. Tese populations have persisted since their discovery in the early 1980s because of the large, contigu-
Henslow’s Sparrow (John Carpenter, NCWRC)
ous size of both sites and the regular control of woody vegetation through annual mowing. Recent surveys suggest that VOA site A supports a more stable population than that of site
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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