Florida Scrub Jay (Alphelocoma coerulescens) Ecology
Audubon of Martin County Scrub Jay Coordinator
JayWatch@AudubonMartinCounty.org
Status
The Florida Scrub Jay (Alphelocoma coerulescens) is Florida's only endemic bird species and is listed as "Threatened" by both the Federal government and the State of Florida. Once common in Martin County, now fewer than 20 widely-dispersed and geographically isolated clans remain; the majority of these are on public lands. There are three meta-populations defined by genetics and geography. The smallest and most vulnerable of these populations resides in the counties of the Treasure Coast.
Their Challenges
The Florida Scrub Jay, like other members of the Crow family is clever and inquisitive; however, unlike its cousins, the Florida Scrub Jays has not yet shown a great deal of adaptability with respect to its habitat requirements. Thousands of years have honed the Florida Scrub Jays's lifestyle to cope with the rigors of the white sand/oak scrub habitat. They will also occasionally make use of scrubby flatwoods if the tree cover is sparse. Unfortunately both these habitats were ideal landscapes for human development resulting in loss of about 93-percent of historical scrub habitat. Furthermore, since Florida Scrub Jays typically will not travel more than about 5 miles from their birth territory, they are ill-adapted to search for new territory when faced with the loss and fragmentation of their home habitat.
Natural History
Although often mistaken for young Blue Jays, Florida Scrub Jays lack the bold black and white markings and head crest of the Blue Jay. Juveniles have a mousy brown head and neck until the end of their first summer when they molt into their adult plumage. In adulthood male and female plumage is identical; the genders can only be distinguished by behavior.
To make the best use of available resources the Florida Scrub Jay has developed a highly territorial and co-operative breeding lifestyle: territorial boundaries remain fairly stable from year to year, birds typically mate for life, and the offspring stay at home as helpers until a mating opportunity opens up in a nearby territory. These strategies ensure that all suitable habitat, which has always been limited, is divided up into family-size units and that a breeding age bird is always available to fill vacancies.
While Florida Scrub Jays are best known for their consumption and caching of acorns they are, in fact, true omnivores. The bulk of their diet consists of insects (grasshoppers, crickets and larval butterflies and moths) and small vertebrates (frogs, toads, lizards, snakes and rodents).
How You Can Help
Report to the Audubon Office any sightings of Florida Scrub Jays, especially if banded. Please report the colors (in the order: top then bottom band on bird's right leg; top then bottom on the left leg) together with the date, time, location and any information about the birds' condition or behavior.
Don't hand feed peanuts to Florida Scrub Jays or any other bird
Make a contribution to our JayWatcher Fund. Contact the Audubon Office or check our website for information about making donations (contact details below).
Join Audubon of Martin County's JayWatchers Project, whose aims are to:
- Locate all Florida Scrub Jay families residing outside state and national parks in Martin County
- Protect and preserve these family territories wherever possible and encourage the creation of viable, new territories as well as the restoration of derelict sites
- Educate, organize and support residents wishing to protect their local Florida Scrub Jays
- Ensure local government planners know the location of all Florida Scrub Jays territories and take appropriate action before any proposed development or activity occurs
- Better understand the stresses that urbanization brings to our Florida Scrub Jays families and develop management techniques promoting their long term survival.
Florida Scrub Jay Resources
- Audubon of Martin County Scrub Jay Watch.
- Florida Scrub Jays- Can They Survive on the Treasure Coast? (PDF) Presentation by Greg Braun.
- Florida Scrub Jay Pamphlet (PDF) .
- More Florida Scrub Jay photos.
- Florida Scrub Jay- Audio Report on Lake Wales Ridge Florida Scrub Jays with bird call.
- Florida Jay- John James Audubon's original text and painting of the "Florida Jay."
Notice: Regarding Feeding Peanuts to Florida Scrub Jays
We have recently been reminded by the Department of Environmental Protection that without an official Fish and Wildlife Commission permit (or a permitted person being present) feeding Florida Scrub Jays peanuts can be considered as "take" and is not allowed. Recently a $175 fine was levied on an individual feeding peanuts to Florida Scrub Jays at the side of the road at Canaveral National Seashore.
The official position is that "Intentional feeding of a threatened species (including luring them to one's person), constitutes take (i.e. harass, molest, possess) as the activity alters the natural behavior of the bird by changing its diet and feeding behaviors as well as acclimating it to make contact with humans."
In regards to bird feeders in one's yard that may attract the Florida Scrub Jay, this presumably is not considered a 'take,' as the feeding is not threatened-species-intentional or a luring to one's person.
To report wildlife law violations, call FWC's Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922 [888 404-FWCC]. The number is toll-free and open 24 hours, seven days a week. Callers may remain anonymous, and may be eligible for a reward if their information leads to an arrest.
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