Birds like the Grasshopper Sparrow used to be a common sight in open fields across Central New York, but birdwatchers like Paul Richardson, Vice President of the Onondaga Chapter of the Audubon Society, says these days sightings of the elusive sparrow are harder to come by.
"I went out earlier this week to a spot where I used to spot Grasshopper Sparrows. Ten years ago I got 12 or more breeding pairs. Earlier this week I only had two pairs. So they are definitely in decline," Richardson says.
The Northern Harrier is another bird whose numbers are in decline. To help preserve these and other threatened birds in the area, New York State has designated a 1,000 acre section of Green Lakes State Park as a bird conservation area. Richardson says Green Lakes undisturbed forests and grasslands should help boost the birds’ numbers.
"Some of the birds will breed here, and others will use it as a migratory stop off point. It's nice to have for both purposes," Richardson says.
Green Lakes joins 52 other public areas across the state that since 1997 have been designated bird conservation areas. Maintaining these areas costs the state about $350,000 a year. That money has been cut from the budget and the Department of Evnivronmental Conservation and the Audubon Society are hoping to find private donors to help support the program.
In the meantime, bird lovers like Paul Richardson are taking every chance they can to see these birds in the wild.
"It's just so much harmony with nature… it is just wonderful to be out enjoying it," Richardson says.
