{"id":21014,"date":"2015-03-22T06:12:45","date_gmt":"2015-03-22T12:12:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=21014"},"modified":"2025-11-06T10:32:27","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T16:32:27","slug":"sage-thrashers-and-the-rapidly-disappearing-sea-of-sage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2015\/03\/22\/sage-thrashers-and-the-rapidly-disappearing-sea-of-sage\/","title":{"rendered":"Sage Thrashers and the Rapidly Disappearing Sea of Sage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sage Thrashers<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"SageSage Thrasher in golden light<\/span><\/p>\n

Sagebrush steppes are rapidly disappearing because of habitat destruction, invasive species and fires and if climate change continues the sea of sage that used to cover much of the western United States will disappear and Sagebrush-Obligate<\/span><\/a> species like this Sage Thrasher will disappear too.<\/p>\n

\"EarlyEarly spring Sage Thrasher<\/span><\/p>\n

So what does Sagebrush-Obligate mean? It means those species of birds and animals depend on Sagebrush to live and survive. You won’t see a Sage Thrasher during the breeding season in any location without sagebrush.<\/p>\n

\"SageSage Thrasher displaying on sagebrush<\/span><\/p>\n

Habitat destruction includes clearing the land for cattle grazing. I’ve seen that happen on the gentle slopes of the Stansbury Mountain range and I honestly cringe when I see the land stripped of the sage which can allow invasive species like cheat grass to take hold.<\/p>\n

I see them ripping the sagebrush out of the ground during the nesting season and I know that eggs were destroyed and young birds were killed.<\/p>\n

The Sage Thrashers won’t sing or display in those areas again in my lifetime.<\/p>\n

\"DriedDried Rabbitbrush and a Sage Thrasher<\/span><\/p>\n

Climate change is going to cause huge problems for Sage Thrashers and other Sagebrush-Obligate species. I haven’t researched what the projections are for other Sagebrush-Obligate population declines but for the Sage Thrashers the projected population decline is 78%. That is right, 78% fewer Sage Thrashers<\/strong> than we have now and their populations have been declining about 0.6 percent per year<\/a><\/span> since 1968. <\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, I know that some people look at Sagebrush Steppes and think they are barren, worthless areas except for what can be extracted from the earth below.<\/p>\n

They are wrong and ignorant.<\/p>\n

\"SingingSinging Sage Thrasher<\/span><\/p>\n

Ignorance about climate change is rampant, the Governor of Florida has put a law into effect that prevents state employees from even saying the words “climate change”. Well he might be able to stop those employees from saying those words but he isn’t going to stop what is already<\/em> happening.<\/p>\n

I have no<\/em> doubt that our climate is changing because I see it every time I go into the field.\u00a0 Our winter was the warmest on record and it is just going to get worse in coming years. I’m dreading the high temps we will have this summer and the wildfires that will come along with them.<\/p>\n

\"SageSage Thrasher singing in the sage<\/span><\/p>\n

Sagebrush is slow growing so when it is yanked up to “improve” the area for cattle grazing or wildfires sweep through it takes decades to fully recover.<\/p>\n

Then the Sagebrush-Obligate species have to move to other areas or die.<\/p>\n

\"AntelopeAntelope Island State Park Sage Thrasher<\/span><\/p>\n

I probably won’t be around when the Sage Thrasher population reaches that projected 78% decline but my grandchildren and their children will be.<\/p>\n

And I find that very sad.<\/p>\n

Can the disappearance of Sagebrush Seas be stopped? Yes, it could be (or at least slowed down)\u00a0 but we need lawmakers that believe in science and act on it.<\/p>\n

We need lawmakers who care about future generations and the wildlife that inhabits our lands now<\/em>. We need the people who care to step up today.<\/p>\n

Tomorrow may be too late to help Sage Thrashers and the rapidly disappearing sea of sage.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a><\/span> to see more of my Sage Thrasher photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n

The first image in this post was taken last year using my Nikon D300 and Nikkor 200-400mm VR lens. The rest of the images were taken within this past week using my Nikon D810 with a Nikkor 500mm VR lens.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Can the disappearance of Sagebrush Seas be stopped? Yes, it could be but we need lawmakers that believe in science and act on it. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":162838,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[511,27,2152,1022,1254,103,26],"tags":[4004,3462,11978,1692,4348,821,4164,4289,4003,4057,2660,3463,4179,2816,4613,735],"class_list":["post-21014","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-antelope-island-state-park","category-avian","category-conservation","category-davis-county-utah","category-environment-wildlife-ethics","category-sage-thrashers","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-climate-change","tag-desert-island","tag-habitat-destruction","tag-mating-display","tag-mimids-2","tag-oreoscoptes-montanus","tag-rabbitbrush","tag-sage-thrasher","tag-sagebrush","tag-sagebrush-steppe","tag-sagebrush-obligate-species","tag-singing-2","tag-song-birds","tag-thrasher","tag-thrashers"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sage-thrasher-morning-light-mia-mcpherson-5676.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-5sW","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":14817,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/04\/23\/sage-thrashers-and-sagebrush\/","url_meta":{"origin":21014,"position":0},"title":"Sage Thrashers and Sagebrush","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 23, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Sage Thrashers are considered sagebrush obligates meaning that they require sagebrush for some part of their life cycle and for the Sage Thrashers in Utah that means they need it during the breeding cycle.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fluffed up Sage Thrasher and pastel hues, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sage-thrasher-adult-perched-mia-mcpherson-5990.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sage-thrasher-adult-perched-mia-mcpherson-5990.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sage-thrasher-adult-perched-mia-mcpherson-5990.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sage-thrasher-adult-perched-mia-mcpherson-5990.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":104808,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/08\/07\/sage-thrasher-in-riparian-habitat\/","url_meta":{"origin":21014,"position":1},"title":"Sage Thrasher In Riparian Habitat","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 7, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Towards the end of last month I found a Sage Thrasher high in the mountains in riparian habitat which surprised me. A lot.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sage Thrasher in riparian habitat, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/sage-thrasher-riparian-habitat-mia-mcpherson-6554.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/sage-thrasher-riparian-habitat-mia-mcpherson-6554.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/sage-thrasher-riparian-habitat-mia-mcpherson-6554.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/sage-thrasher-riparian-habitat-mia-mcpherson-6554.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14794,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2014\/04\/20\/sage-thrashers-mockingbirds-of-the-sagebrush\/","url_meta":{"origin":21014,"position":2},"title":"Sage Thrashers – Mockingbirds of the Sagebrush","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"April 20, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"I spent some time yesterday on Antelope Island State Park photographing and listening to a very cooperative and melodious Sage Thrasher.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Singing Sage Thrasher in low light, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sage-thrasher-singing-low-light-mia-mcpherson-5350.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sage-thrasher-singing-low-light-mia-mcpherson-5350.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sage-thrasher-singing-low-light-mia-mcpherson-5350.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sage-thrasher-singing-low-light-mia-mcpherson-5350.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":36791,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2016\/03\/06\/sage-thrasher-in-golden-light\/","url_meta":{"origin":21014,"position":3},"title":"Sage Thrasher in Golden Light","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 6, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"I didn't get to see Greater Sage Grouse on my recent trip to southern Utah but I did get a few brief looks at another sagebrush obligate when a single Sage Thrasher popped up into view.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sage Thrasher in golden light, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sage-thrasher-golden-light-mia-mcpherson-3497.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sage-thrasher-golden-light-mia-mcpherson-3497.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sage-thrasher-golden-light-mia-mcpherson-3497.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sage-thrasher-golden-light-mia-mcpherson-3497.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":100621,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/03\/13\/looking-for-my-first-of-year-sage-thrasher\/","url_meta":{"origin":21014,"position":4},"title":"Looking For My First Of Year Sage Thrasher","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 13, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"March 13th is an anniversary of sorts for me. The date is the earliest that I have seen and photographed a Sage Thrasher in northern Utah.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fluffy Sage Thrasher adult warming up on a rock, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sage-thrasher-adult-on-rock-mia-mcpherson-0248.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sage-thrasher-adult-on-rock-mia-mcpherson-0248.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sage-thrasher-adult-on-rock-mia-mcpherson-0248.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/sage-thrasher-adult-on-rock-mia-mcpherson-0248.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":51195,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/03\/09\/looking-for-the-first-of-the-year-sage-thrashers-to-arrive\/","url_meta":{"origin":21014,"position":5},"title":"Looking For The First Of The Year Sage Thrashers To Arrive","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 9, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I can barely wait to see my first Sage Thrasher of the year warming up on a rock in front of the Great Salt Lake, scurrying along on the ground, perched on top of sage or rabbitbrush singing or displaying.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Early Sage Thrasher warming up on a rock in front of the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sage-thrasher-first-of-year-mia-mcpherson-0261.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sage-thrasher-first-of-year-mia-mcpherson-0261.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sage-thrasher-first-of-year-mia-mcpherson-0261.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/sage-thrasher-first-of-year-mia-mcpherson-0261.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21014","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21014"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21014\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/162838"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21014"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21014"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21014"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}