Vesper Sparrows

Every spring on Vancouver Island, Nanaimo Airport welcomes some exclusive company ––all
the way from Mexico. The Vesper Sparrow makes its summer home at the airport and although
it can be found coast to coast across North America, the 49th parallel is at the extreme
northern range for this five-to-six-inch streaked brown bird.

Four nests were documented at the airport in 2006 by the Garry Oak Ecosystem Recovery
Team (GOERT). The bird’s habitat was in Garry Oak meadow lands prior to urbanization;
today, it nests in sparse grassy open fields with bush for perches and cover.

A specific, 13-acre area was set aside in 2007 for the tiny birds. The airport signed a
stewardship agreement with GOERT four years ago. The airport agreed to control the
timing of mowing and the removal of broom at the south end of the runway to assist
the bird’s breeding cycle.

GOERT has obtained funding from the federal Habitat Stewardship Fund and the B.C. Ministry
of Water, Land and Air and with volunteer help, it is keeping track of the little birds and working
to improve their habitat. The airport perimeter fencing prevents dogs and people from bothering
the birds. Bird activity is normally discouraged around airports because it can present a
problem for aircraft, but Vesper Sparrows are low-flyers, unlike the eagles, hawks and turkey
vultures that can arrive at the airport to hunt rabbits. They seem not to be troubled by aircraft
overhead.

By assisting the Vesper Sparrows, we are trying to balance the community’s need to travel with
the environment.

Ministry of Environment letter Click Here.

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The picture below is a Vesper Sparrow nest.