Brewer’s sparrows rely on conifer removal to maintain core sagebrush habitat

View brief.

• Tree invasion of sagebrush habitat in southwest Montana has caused a 30% decline in the population of Brewer’s sparrows since 1954.
• If nothing is done to prevent tree encroachment, Brewer’s sparrows will decline by 60% in the next 30 years.
• Defending core sagebrush habitat through conifer removal can maintain populations of Brewer’s sparrows into the future