Florida Scrub-Jay
Translocation
”Recent data suggests that Florida scrub-jays are
continuing to decline in population. With real estate
markets improving, new construction is again
reducing the habitat available to these birds.
Translocation of jay families, an approach
pioneered by Brevard Zoo, can be a useful tool to
support the recovery of this threatened species.”
Vince Lamb
wildlife photographer and conservationist
Finding a happy home
In the past century, Florida scrub-jay numbers
have declined by 90% due to loss of scrub
habitat, the most endangered of all Florida
ecosystem types (source: UF/IFAS EDIS).
Scrub, shown here, is a sandy, fire-dependent
upland habitat that’s fragmenting and
disappearing at an alarming rate due to
human development and fire suppression.
Scrub-jays do not migrate, so they will not
necessarily seek out a more suitable habitat
if their quality of life is compromised.
>D
id you know?
Florida scrub-jays serve an important
ecosystem function by dispersing
scrub oak acorns and the seeds
of other scrub plants.
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