? Dusky Seaside Sparrow Conservation status: Extinct (1987)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Passeriformes Family: Emberizidae Genus: Ammodramus Species: A. maritimus Subspecies: A. m. nigrescens
Trinomial name
Ammodramus maritimus nigrescens (Ridgway, 1873)

The dusky seaside sparrow, Ammodramus maritimus nigrescens, was once a non-migratory songbird common in Southern Florida, in the marshes of Merritt Island and along the St. John's River. However, when Merritt Island was flooded with the goal of reducing the mosquito population around Kennedy Space Center, the sparrows' nesting grounds were devastated, and their numbers plummeted. Later, the marshes surrounding the river were likewise drained, to facilitate highway construction; this was a further blow. Eventually, pollution and pesticides took such a high toll that by 1979, only six dusky seaside sparrows were known to exist — all of whom were males; a female was last sighted in 1975. Jump to: navigation, search 1987 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (750x1143, 149 KB) Summary Source: US Fish & Wildlife Service Author: Sykes, P. W. Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Jump to: navigation, search Phyla Porifera (sponges) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria Placozoa Subregnum Bilateria  Acoelomorpha  Orthonectida  Rhombozoa  Myxozoa  Superphylum Deuterostomia     Chordata (vertebrates, etc. ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicates Ascideiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Jump to: navigation, search Orders Many - see section below. ... Families Many, see text A passerine is a bird of the giant order Passeriformes. ... The Emberizidae are a large family of passerine birds. ... Genus Ammodramus Swainson, 1827 The genus Ammodramus is a group of American sparrows in the family Emberizidae. ... Trinomial nomenclature is a taxonomic naming system that extends the standard system of binomial nomenclature by adding a third taxon. ... Robert Ridgway. ... Migration occurs when living things move from one biome to another. ... Jump to: navigation, search State nickname: Sunshine State Other U.S. States Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Governor Jeb Bush (R) Senators Bill Nelson (D) Mel Martinez (R) Official languages English Area 170,451 km² (22nd)  - Land 137,374 km²  - Water 30,486 km² (17. ... Merritt Island is: An island (strictly, part of a peninsula) in Brevard County, Florida, on Floridas Atlantic coast a town located on the island Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, also located on the island The island Merritt Island is not strictly an island at all, but part of a... The St. ... Jump to: navigation, search Genera See text. ... Merritt Island and Kennedy Space Center The John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is the NASA space vehicle launch facility (spaceport) at Cape Canaveral on Merritt Island in Florida, United States. ... Jump to: navigation, search This page refers to the year 1979. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1975 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1975 calendar). ...

Five were captured and brought to Disneyworld, to live out their days in a protected habitat. By March 31, 1986, only one (named "Orange Band"), remained. Cinderella Castle, at the center of the Magic Kingdom, is Walt Disney World Resorts most recognizable icon Introduction Owned and operated by The Walt Disney Company, the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, USA is home to four theme parks, three water parks, several resort hotels and golf courses... Jump to: navigation, search March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (91st in Leap years), with 275 days remaining, as the final day of March. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1986 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Despite being blind in one eye, Orange Band reached extreme old age for a sparrow, living at least eight years, and possibly as many as thirteen, before dying on June 17, 1987. The dusky seaside sparrow was officially declared extinct in December of 1990. June 17 is the 168th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (169th in leap years), with 197 days remaining. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1987 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In biology and ecology, extinction is the ceasing of existence of a species or group of species. ... Jump to: navigation, search 1990 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• The story of Orange Band
• Photo of the Dusky Seaside Sparrow
• History of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
• Voice of the Dusky Seaside Sparrow