Environment |

Trapped, then bred in captivity, Florida’s grasshopper sparrow is coming back

A Florida grasshopper sparrow flies from its temporary aviary habitat during its release on the prairie at Avon Park Air Force Range, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. The 1,000th bird of the critically-endangered species raised in captivity was a part of the release by biologists at the air base 60 miles south of Orlando. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Patricia Ryan with Archbold Biological Station watches as a Florida grasshopper sparrow flies away from its temporary aviary habitat during the release on the prairie at Avon Park Air Force Range, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. The 1,000th bird of the critically-endangered species raised in captivity was a part of the release by biologists at the air base 60 miles south of Orlando. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Biologists open the gate son the temporary aviary habitats during the release of Florida grasshopper sparrows on the prairie at Avon Park Air Force Range, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. The 1,000th bird of the critically-endangered species raised in captivity was a part of the release by biologists at the air base 60 miles south of Orlando. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

A Florida grasshopper sparrow flies through its temporary aviary habitat during the release on the prairie at Avon Park Air Force Range, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. The 1,000th bird of the critically-endangered species raised in captivity was a part of the release by biologists at the air base 60 miles south of Orlando. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

A pair of Florida grasshopper sparrows hesitate in the temporary aviary habitat shortly during their release on the prairie at Avon Park Air Force Range, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. The 1,000th bird of the critically-endangered species raised in captivity was a part of the release by biologists at the air base 60 miles south of Orlando. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

A Florida grasshopper sparrow hops through its temporary aviary habitat shortly before being released on the prairie at Avon Park Air Force Range, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. The 1,000th bird of the critically-endangered species raised in captivity was a part of the release by biologists at the air base 60 miles south of Orlando. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

State and federal wildlife experts march through the prairie with viewing scopes for the release of Florida grasshopper sparrows at Avon Park Air Force Range, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. The 1,000th bird of the critically-endangered species raised in captivity was a part of the release by biologists at the air base 60 miles south of Orlando. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Patricia Ryan with Archbold Biological Station watches as a Florida grasshopper sparrow flies away from its temporary aviary habitat during the release on the prairie at Avon Park Air Force Range, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. The 1,000th bird of the critically-endangered species raised in captivity was a part of the release by biologists at the air base 60 miles south of Orlando. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

State and federal wildlife experts watch with viewing scopes during the release of Florida grasshopper sparrows at Avon Park Air Force Range, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. The 1,000th bird of the critically-endangered species raised in captivity was a part of the release by biologists at the air base 60 miles south of Orlando. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

A Florida grasshopper sparrow flies through its temporary aviary habitat shortly before being released on the prairie at Avon Park Air Force Range, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. The 1,000th bird of the critically-endangered species raised in captivity was a part of the release by biologists at the air base 60 miles south of Orlando. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

A Florida grasshopper sparrow flies through its temporary aviary habitat during the release on the prairie at Avon Park Air Force Range, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. The 1,000th bird of the critically-endangered species raised in captivity was a part of the release by biologists at the air base 60 miles south of Orlando. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Biologist Liz Abraham from Archbold Biological Station gives the all-clear signal from the temporary aviary habitat after releasing 10 Florida grasshopper sparrows on the prairie at Avon Park Air Force Range, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. The 1,000th bird of the critically-endangered species raised in captivity was a part of the release by the biologists at the air base 60 miles south of Orlando. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Team members from Archbold Biological Station cheer after releasing Florida grasshopper sparrows on the prairie at Avon Park Air Force Range, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. The 1,000th bird of the critically-endangered species raised in captivity was a part of the release by the biologists at the air base 60 miles south of Orlando. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

Biologist Liz Abraham from Archbold Biological Station packs up the temporary aviary habitat after releasing Florida grasshopper sparrows on the prairie at Avon Park Air Force Range, Tuesday, July 16, 2024. The 1,000th bird of the critically-endangered species raised in captivity was a part of the release by the biologists at the air base 60 miles south of Orlando. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)