Why is the savannah sparrow important in the Great Salt Lake Playa food web?
On the Great Salt Lake Playa the savannah sparrow inhabits areas composed of native salt grass, alkali dropseed, and foxtail barley. Among these grasses are introduced annual weedy grasses such as cheat grass, and mouse barley. Beneath the blades of grass drop little seeds upon which the bird forages. Also beneath these grasses one will find insects such as spiders, and grasshoppers. It is most likely that the savannah sparrow eats more insects during the nesting season in order to feed its young. As mentioned above, the savannah sparrow often inhabits areas where the waters and soils are very alkaline. It is difficult for trees and larger shrubs to grow in these conditions, and grasses thrive. The savannah sparrow forages on these grass seeds. Because the birds do not frequently fly long distances, they are limited to the alkaline waters near their nests to drink. “The Passerculus sandwichensis has no salt gland to deal with this alkalinity, but it uses its kidney to concentrate salt
