It’s a muggy, heavy June morning in Highlands County. The crickets still own the air. I’m bleary-eyed, driving down highway 27, and relying on bitter coffee to prepare me for a day covering the monthly Florida Scrub Jay Census at Archbold Biological Station. The Strawberry Moon rests to my right, above the fog-blanketed rolling hills and prairies of the Lake Wales Ridge. As I wind my way through backroads to this wildlife sanctuary, my windows retreat to let the sweet morning air fill the cabin of my car. As I turn onto the dirt road that leads to the station, the smell of burned wood and ash hits my nostrils, and blackened trees with orange, dead foliage replace the endless green that had surrounded me. I’m introduced to Dr. Sahas Barve and the Avian Ecology Lab, generously gifted a donut for breakfast, and the monthly Scrub-Jay census begins.

Archbold conducts one of the longest continuous studies of any wild organism, spanning over 50 years of monitoring Florida Scrub–Jays and their social systems, while tracking the individual life histories of over 6,000 birds. Florida Scrub-Jays are currently listed as Threatened by the Federal Endangered Species Act and Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species Rule. It is estimated that there are only 2,500-10,000 left in the wild.

As their name implies, Florida Scrub-Jays live in Scrub ecosystems with sandy soil, which drains quickly into lower–lying areas, leaving a dry habitat that is colonized by drought–resistant plants like scrub palmetto, prickly pear cactus, and rusty staggerbush. 200 million years ago, the peninsula of Florida was underwater, and the Lake Wales Ridge was the only landmass above sea level. Because of its geologic history, the Ridge has ideal soil for the Scrub habitat these birds and other species depend on. This also means even slight changes in elevation produce different kinds of plant communities. When water drains from the higher areas, it settles in lower areas, and this slight abundance of water supports the growth of hardier plants, like Longleaf Pine and Sabal Palmetto. This contributes to the main reason for their vulnerability: habitat loss. In a state that is still just barely above sea level, dry upland habitat like oak scrub and pine flatwoods that are less likely to flood become targets for real estate development and agriculture.

A big part of and stewardship is habitat management, which includes regular controlled burns to maintain the natural balance of the ecosystem. Historically, Florida’s natural areas were kept in check by wildfires, commonly started by lightning strikes. Now, because of the increased human population in Florida, wildfires are suppressed in favor of human safety. Controlled burns, conducted by teams of professional firefighters, simulate these wildfires for the benefit of the ecosystems that have evolved to burn regularly. Performing controlled burns makes the land less likely to suffer from more destructive wildfires that are harder to control later on. Florida Scrub-Jays benefit from these burns because it removes tall and dense growth, allowing the Scrub-Jays to see their prey and predators better. Controlled burns are also shown to increase insect populations in burned areas, increasing food availability. 

 

Scrub–Jays are Florida’s only endemic bird species, meaning they are found only in Florida and nowhere else in the world. They operate in a familial unit, with the offspring acting as helpers for several years raising other young and defending their territory.
These families are highly territorial. One tactic used to lure them out into view (pictured) was to play Scrub-Jay calls on a Bluetooth speaker near the border of their territory, so they’d come out and investigate. They were rewarded with peanuts for defending their home! Dr. Barve explained that although the boundaries are sometimes subject to change, it is very uncommon for a Scrub-Jay to leave its family’s territory. This information is especially useful when the scientists at Archbold re-map the estimated territories of the Scrub-Jays. Throughout the morning, this process was repeated with the addition of vocally calling the birds with a “Pshhh! Pshhh! Pshhh!” sound until each nest site was visited. At the end of the census, the Avian Ecology team reconvenes in the laboratory and goes over which individual birds from each family were seen and which ones weren’t.

As the Scrub-Jay population continues to decline, scientists, activists, and others around the state are hard at work trying to protect the little scrub habitat that Florida has left, especially within the connected Florida Wildlife Corridor. For the benefit of endangered plant and animal species, preserving Scrub habitat and its importance in the natural history and ecology of Florida is absolutely priceless.

Lucas Delgado | Photography Intern

Lucas is a senior majoring in Environmental Studies at the University of Central Florida. Not originally from Florida, the state’s beautiful and diverse landscapes inspired him to take up photography and pursue a career in conservation. After graduation he hopes to attend graduate school to deepen his knowledge and understanding of how to best protect Florida’s environment for the future. Lucas is a firm believer in the idea that art, education, and outreach are incredibly important to the mission of conservation and is very excited to contribute to the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation.