Dusky Seaside Sparrow
BY: Amanda    

    Orange Band was the last Dusky seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus nigrescens).  This male died in Disney World, Orlando, Florida, on June 18th, 1987.  Orange Band was blind in one eye and was alone.  

    Habitat loss was one of the main reasons the Dusky seaside sparrow went extinct.  Other reasons include DDT (pollution that softened their eggs, so if they sat on them, they would break),  not natural predators, and fires.  The sparrows lived around 10 to 15 feet above sea level.  Anywhere below that was too wet for their favorite nesting grass to grow, and anywhere above that was too dry for codgrass to grow.

    Dusky seaside sparrows were omnivorous.  They are basically black and white.

Citations

Earth Witness Community. "Dusky Seaside Sparrow." at
<http://www.earthwitness.com/Oarnge%2OBand.htm> (2000-2002).

Image of dusky seaside sparrow from "ArtToday.com" <http://members.clipart.com/en/index> (2003).