Afrin Akhter, Parkview School
Gloucester County
Second Place, Gloucester County, Savannah Sparrow (c) Afrin Akhter
Savannah Sparrow
I have a tall tail, small head, and dark streaks like tigers. We are medium sized birds with yellow lores between the bill and the eyes, Can you guess what I am? I'm the Savannah Sparrow!
Our secret talent is singing, so we are songbirds. The songs are mixtures of chirps and trills. The songs are different from where we all live. My Scientific name is Passerculus sandwichensis. It’s very hard to pronounce so my parents named meSavannah.
For us to not starve to death and die we eat seeds to keep us healthy and fit. My family and I are a variable species, with numerous subspecies, Several of us have been separated at various times. We have seven-teen subspecies. Isn't that awesome?!
The Savannah Sparrows, like me, is a threatened animal in some part ofNew Jersey. My friends and I breed in the Ridge and Valley andHighlandregion of northernNew Jersey. In the fall, Sparrows migrate from September through early November. The spring migrants occurs from mid-March and late April. Also, us sparrows are rarely seen in large grassland of 20-40 acres. Even at the night you'll find us in the lower grasslands. It's really dangerous at the night because all the predators come out and its hard to see too.
We, the Savannah Sparrow need protection because of all the dangerous, racked, nightmares of the sound of the mowings, controlled burns, or even light gazing. Even the open spaces for us Sparrows are getting smaller. It could ruin the quality of our lives and we can die because of it. People should at least try to protect it by planting more grassland for their homes. Also, they should protect the vegetated coastal dunes for the winter sparrow, and finally, controlled burns should be lead every four years.
Think about the birds suffering from all the destructive things people have done to us. Some of us barely have a homes to keep ourselves safe and warm because of all the trees and grasses the humans has cut down. Its only fair for humans but not for my family, and me now that’s so unfair! If all the people on earth gather around to save the smallSavannahsparrow bird I would be delighted (its possible for that to happen) and it will really mean so much to me. A little effort could lead to a big change.
Written By: Afrin Akhter
Parkview School, Westville,NJ
Teacher: Mrs. Jackson