FLORIDA SCRUB-JAY (Aphelocoma Coerulescens) POPULATION CHANGES at JONATHAN DICKINSON STATE PARK. by Emily M.N. Morton a Thesis S

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FLORIDA SCRUB-JAY (Aphelocoma coerulescens) POPULATION CHANGES AT

JONATHAN DICKINSON STATE PARK.

Emily M.N. Morton

A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of

The Wilkes Honors College

in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of

Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences

with a Concentration in Environmental Studies

Wilkes Honors College of

Florida Atlantic University

Jupiter, FL

May 2016

FLORIDA SCRUB-JAY (Aphelocoma coerulescens) POPULATION CHANGES AT JONATHAN DICKINSON STATE PARK.

by Emily M.N. Morton

This thesis was prepared under the direction of the candidate’s thesis advisors, Dr. James Wetterer and Dr. O’Brien, and has been approved by the members of her/his supervisory committee. It was submitted to the faculty of The Honors College and was accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences.

SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE:

Dr. James Wetterer

Dr. William O’Brien

Dean, Wilkes Honors College

Date

Acknowledgements

My interest in Florida Scrub-Jays began during an internship at Jonathan Dickinson State Park, where one of my duties was to tame the birds in order to prepare them to be banded by the park biologists. From the first time that I ventured into the scrub to visit these birds, I was fascinated by their overtly social behavior. After a few visits, I was able to distinguish certain individuals based on the way they acted around me, some hopping around my feet but never letting me get too close. Studying these insightful animals quickly became a passion and I wanted to understand them better in order to help protect them. I want to sincerely thank people who dedicate their lives to caring for the natural world and inspire others to do the same, especially Natasha Warraich, who helped me throughout the entire process of my research at Jonathan Dickinson.

The Honors College of Florida Atlantic University was home during my undergraduate career and I greatly appreciate every professor who taught me and helped me become a well-rounded student. I would like to thank Dr. James Wetterer for helping with the organization of this paper and for making the study of life so much fun; Dr. Bryson Bedell for sparking my interest in GIS and map-making; and Dr. William O’Brien for being my academic advisor, my favorite professor, and for helping me better understand the interconnectedness that we all share with the natural environment. I would also like to thank Dr. Wairimu Njambi for teaching me and so many others invaluable lessons about people and for opening my eyes to the ugly truths of society: institutionalized racism, sexism, and intolerance. You have inspired me to become an agent of change rather than to continue existing in a bubble.

Lastly, I would like to thank Daniel Kniseley, my best friend, and his mother Audrey Ruival for their constant love and support. I would like to thank my brother Nicolas, who has always been there for me and has become one of my greatest companions; thank you for inspiring me everyday. Finally, I would like to thank my parents, Florence and Jeffrey, whom I love more than life itself. Thank you for always believing in me, I dedicate this paper to you.

iii

ABSTRACT

Author: Emily M.N. Morton

Title: Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens)

Population Changes at Jonathan Dickinson State

Park

Institution: Wilkes Honors College of Florida Atlantic

University

Thesis Advisor: Dr. James Wetterer

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences

Concentration: Environmental Studies

Year: 2016

Each June, surveys are conducted at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in order to monitor the population status of the Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens), the only avian species endemic to the state of Florida. These birds are limited to the rare oak scrub community, a habitat that is under constant threat due to human development. Florida

Scrub-Jays are listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act and all of

Florida’s populations are in decline. Jonathan Dickinson State Park organizes surveys that collect vital information about the species to better understand how to conserve the fire- dependent oak scrub that they inhabit. The results of this study indicate that efforts to restore the scrub habitat through prescribed burning have been successful at JDSP since the population of Florida Scrub-Jays has stabilized and the birds have dispersed into new areas of the park.

Table of Contents

List of Figures and Tables………………………………………………………………. vi

Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………. 1

Methods ………………………………………………………………………………… 6

Results …………………………………………………………………………...... 8

Discussion ………………………………………………………………………………. 9

Literature Cited ………………………………………………………………………… 13

Figures and Tables …………………………………………………………………….. 15

List of Figures and Tables

Table 1. Vegetation Documentation ………...………………………………………...... 6

Figure 1A ………………………………………………………………………………..15

Figure 1B …………………………………………………………………………..……16

Table 2. Florida Scrub-Jay population numbers in JDSP ……………………………… 17

Figure 2. Graph of Florida Scrub-Jay numbers in JDSP ………………………………. 17

Figure 3. Florida Scrub-Jay group locations in JDSP ………………………………….. 18

Figure 4. Unbanded birds in newly inhabited Northern area …………………………... 19

Figure 5. JDSP burn management zones ………………………………………………. 20

Introduction

Habitat restoration aims to help protect one or more threatened species in areas where habitat degradation has altered environmental conditions, particularly for landscapes in which concentrated human land uses dominate (Noss & Cooperrider 1994; Miller 2007).

In cases where the severity of degradation is extreme, an area may no longer be suitable for species that had once inhabited the territory. One example is observed in the city of Los

Angeles, where some soils have such high levels of heavy metals deposited from automobile exhaust that restoring native flora there is now impossible (Woodward 2005).

In other cases, however, relatively modest restoration efforts can produce great results.

Efforts to prevent imperiled species’ decline include habitat restoration, reducing threats to the species and creating or managing reserves (USFWS 1999). Successful species recovery depends on human commitment to invest time and resources in order to ensure that threatened plant and animal species are protected and brought back to a secure status.

One example of successful population recovery involves efforts to save the endangered Puerto Rican parrot (Amazona vittata), endemic to the island of Puerto Rico

(USFWS 2003). Historically, the Puerto Rican parrot was abundant throughout the island, but following European colonization and an increase in human population and deforestation, the tropical rainforest dwelling species plummeted. By 1959, an isolated group of around 200 individuals remained in El Yunque National Forest and by 1967, that number was reduced to 70 (USFWS 2003). Recovery efforts begun in 1968 included captive breeding and the establishment of aviaries that acted as sanctuaries for the parrot chicks, a genetic supply for the species and a source of parrots for release into the wild.

These efforts resulted in a steady accumulation of the Puerto Rican parrots in captivity; there are currently 60-80 individuals in the wild and over 300 in captivity, although free- flying captive-reared parrots are released to bolster the wild population (USFWS 2012).

More than half of released parrots thrive and settle in the same valleys that true, wild parrots inhabit. Released parrots can be found flying and foraging with the wild parrots and they even pair up with each other; basically, released survivors can now be considered wild parrots. Reasonable species recovery goals set within understood ecological, economic and social constraints have been widely achievable.

For my thesis research, I examined the effect of on-going habitat restoration of the oak scrub community in South Florida on the population of the threatened Florida Scrub-

Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens). The Florida Scrub-Jay is the only avian species that is endemic to Florida and occurs exclusively in oak scrub habitat. In the 20th century, major destruction of the scrub occurred due to clearing for agriculture and housing development, causing a majority of endemic floral and faunal species to decrease in numbers (Cowan

2005). Due to habitat degradation and loss, the Florida Scrub-Jay has been in decline and in 1987 was federally listed as a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Endangered Species Act (USFWS 1999). Surveys in Jonathan Dickinson State

Park (JDSP) reported up to 300 Florida Scrub-Jays in the early 1990s, but the population numbers have since decreased to an average of 48 in the last decade (Rossmanith, pers comm. 2011). The Florida Scrub-Jay has become a flagship species in an endeavor to save what remains of the Florida scrub habitat.

The Florida Scrub-Jay is a medium-sized, blue and gray bird that is typically 25-30 cm long (Fig. 1). Although similar in shape and size in relation to the more common Blue

Jay (Cyanocitta cristata), the Florida Scrub-Jay differs in plumage coloration; its nape, head, wings and tail are blue, while its belly and back are gray (Johnson 2009). The Florida

Scrub-Jay is crestless, lacks the white and black wing bands and tail feather tips found on the Blue Jay, and exhibits a blue-gray necklace of feathers that separates the white throat from the gray whitish chest (Woolfenden and Fitzpatrick 1996). Although there are no physical traits distinguishing the male and female Florida Scrub-Jay, they may be differentiated by a distinct ‘hiccup’ call that is produced only by females (Woolfenden &

Fitzpatrick 1986). Juveniles younger than five months possess a smoky gray plumage on the head and back, lacking the blue crown and nape seen on adults (USFWS 1999).

The Florida Scrub-Jay requires fire-maintained xeric oak-scrub habitat with low growing oaks in order to live and breed successfully. Florida Scrub-Jays prefer habitats with >60% oak scrub cover, >10% open space, and <20% pine cover (USFWS 1999). More than 90% of the optimal shrub layer is composed of the same six species throughout

Florida: scrub oak (Quercus inopina) or myrtle oak (Quercus myrtifolia), sand live oak

(Quercus geminata), Chapman’s oak (Quercus chapmanii), saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), rusty lyonia (Lyonia ferruginea), and Florida rosemary (Ceratiola ericoides)

(Myers 1990). Xeric scrub is characterized by soil that is quartz sand derived, infertile, well drained, and adapted to periodic drought, high seasonal rainfall and frequent fires. Patchy fire at the appropriate frequency allows for an optimal mosaic of shrubs composed of short and medium (2m) height with sufficient sandy openings (Carter 2011). Although the scrub

3 community is home to over one hundred species reliant on the scrub habitat, including the

Florida mouse (Podomys floridanus) and the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), the

Florida Scrub-Jay is the only avian species that is completely dependent upon this imperiled habitat type (Johnson 2009).

Florida Scrub-Jays, like most other members of the family Corvidae, are omnivores. Their diet consists of a large variety of insects and other invertebrates, small vertebrates, seeds, and berries (Woolfenden and Fitzpatrick 1984). Acorns are the only significant plant food included in this diet. DeGange et al. (1974) concluded that Florida

Scrub-Jays consume acorns year-round, with the highest consumption occurring between the months of September and February and the lowest during the months of June and July

(DeGange et al. 1989). During the fall season, they harvest acorns from the scrub oaks, bury or “cache” them in open patches of sand, and are then able to remember where they hid the acorns (Johnson 2009). The principal foraging sites of Florida Scrub-Jays are scrubby flatwoods composed of mostly shrubby, xerophytic oaks averaging 1 to 1.5 m tall, growing on well-drained soil. Florida Scrub-Jays need the sandy substrate to cache and recover the six to eight thousand acorns each bird stores per year (DeGange, et al. 1989).

Scrub habitats throughout peninsular Florida have continued to decline due to citrus production and residential development because they lead to fire suppression. This alters the low-lying, xeric plant community that depends on frequent fires to maintain its rare composition of species (Ricketts 1999). Rare plant species found in the scrub community include Florida goldenaster (Chrysopsis floridana), large-plumed beaksedge

(Rhynchospora megaplumosa), pine pinweed (Lechea divaricate) and Carter’s warea

(Warea carteri) (FNAI 2010). Jonathan Dickinson State Park conducts prescribed burns according to the Florida Natural Areas Inventory’s guidelines in order to return the habitat to its natural burn return interval. The park contains divisions of designated burning zones in order to manage and maintain an optimal habitat for the Florida Scrub-Jays (see Fig. 5).

Historically, Florida Scrub-Jays were distributed among 39 counties in Florida but currently, only 32 counties maintain Florida Scrub-Jay populations, nine of which have small populations of ten pairs or less (Johnson 2009). On the Atlantic coast, Florida Scrub-

Jays’ occurrence ranges from Flagler to Palm Beach counties. Although widespread, the scope of the Florida Scrub-Jay has dwindled dramatically, and these birds are no longer found throughout most of their historical realm (Johnson 2009). For instance, the species has been eradicated from Broward, Dade, Duval, Gilchrist, Pinellas, and St. Johns counties

(USFWS 1999). Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County supports the largest remaining block of scrub habitat in South Florida (Ricketts 1999). Today, the Florida

Scrub-Jay is listed as a threatened species at both the federal and state levels, which is why the park has been monitoring its population of Florida Scrub-Jays by conducting annual surveys for the past nine years (USFWS 2015). The primary cause for Florida Scrub-Jay species decline is poor demographic success associated with reductions in fire frequency

(Woolfenden and Fitzpatrick 1984).

Methods

I conducted my research in Jonathan Dickinson State Park (JDSP), a 47 km2 reserve in Martin County, Florida. Every year, park staff supervise Florida Scrub-Jay surveys in

JDSP between June 15 and July 15, following standardized protocols, in order to collect vital information about the Florida Scrub-Jay population in the park. In 2015, survey teams made observations at 168 survey points within 12 km2 of the park’s scrub habitat, three times each, on different days during the survey window. The materials we used for the surveys included binoculars, a GPS unit, a boom box with a recording of Florida Scrub-

Jay calls, site maps and data sheets to record vegetation conditions, number of adult and juvenile birds observed, presence or absence of predators and weather conditions. To document the state of vegetation, we established a 10 m radius using yarn, and recorded the percentage area covered by 1) oak, 2) pine, and 3) bare sand or herbaceous cover of less than 15 cm height and 4) mean height of shrub layer (Korosy 2015).

% Ground cover bare Mean sand or Cover % Oak height of herbaceous % Pine classes shrubs shrub layer <15cm tree cover 1 < 25% < 1m < 20% < 15% 2 25 - 50% 1 - 2m 20 - 50% 15 - 40% 3 > 50% > 2m > 50% > 40% Table 1. Vegetation documentation of JDSP survey points.

We then checked the area for predators such as hawks or other birds of prey. If predators were observed, no survey was conducted at that survey location. If no predators were present, the survey took place. This is essential because if predators are present, it is not safe to play the Florida Scrub-Jay calls to bring the birds near the survey team. When the

6 area was clear, the recording of calls was played for 1 min, the speakers pointed in all directions. After this, we waited 3 min to see if any Florida Scrub-Jays responded to the recording. A response was considered to be birds flying towards surveyors or into sight, any movement, or birds calling back to the team. When we observed a response, the recording was stopped and team observations began, including how many birds were observed, whether they were adult or juvenile, and whether or not they were banded. If banded, we used the binoculars to identify the colors and sequence of the bands and then documented them. We used site maps to indicate where Florida Scrub-Jays had been spotted and in which direction they were travelling to and from. When there was no response to the calls, the team waited 3 min, played the recording again and repeated this step three times, while taking note of any observations.

Results

The 2015 surveys of JDSP documented 18 Florida Scrub-Jay families consisting of

48 total birds (40 adults and eight juveniles) (Table 2; Fig. 2). This is slightly higher than the 46.3 average for the nine years of surveys combined. On average there were 2.67 birds per family and 0.44 juveniles per family (Table 2).

The habitat territory has increased due to the Florida Scrub-Jays spreading out to new parts of the park; survey points have increased from 39 points in 2006 to 168 points in 2015. Five groups of birds currently inhabit the area by the southern border of the park, five groups inhabit the area north of the south border by the railroad tracks, one group of 2 birds inhabits the southwestern area of the park by the satellite dishes, and 4 groups inhabit the area by the northern border of the park, near the tower (see Figs. 3,4).

Discussion

The 2015 Jay Watch Surveys affirm that the Florida Scrub-Jay population numbers in Jonathan Dickinson State Park have stabilized, especially over the last 4-5 years (see

Table 2; Fig. 2). In 2006, the Florida Scrub-Jay population in Jonathan Dickinson State

Park averaged 27 birds that were mostly concentrated in the southern border of the park

(Warraich, pers comm. 2015). Nine years later, the population has almost doubled to an average of 48 birds and the habitat area has greatly increased as the birds have spread out from the southern portion of the park to newer areas (see Fig. 3,4). The park’s survey points have nearly quadrupled in numbers since surveys began in 2007, from 39 points to 168 points. Four groups of unbanded Florida Scrub-Jays now inhabit the northern area of the park, where birds had not formerly existed. This area was managed by prescribed burns for the first time ten years ago; previously, the area had only experienced natural fires

(Warraich, pers comm. 2015).

Jonathan Dickinson State Park manages controlled burns throughout its acreage, based on organized burn zones (see Fig. 5). Fire is an essential management tool capable of rapidly restoring even extremely overgrown habitats to a suitable environment for

Florida Scrub-Jays (Boughton 2011). Prescribed burns are conducted based on the given area’s natural burn return interval, which is specified by the Florida Natural Areas

Inventory. The goal of any management of natural area is to return the habitat to its natural burn return interval. For oak scrub, a natural return interval between 8 and 15 years is recommended based on requirements of the Florida Scrub-Jay (FNAI 2010). Intervals of

5-15 years would allow for the oaks to attain an optimal height for the birds and would also

9 yield maximal acorn production. Variability in season and frequency of prescribed fires produces a mosaic of recently burned and unburned patches (FNAI 2010).

Florida Scrub-Jays have a social structure that involves cooperative breeding; every group is composed of one mated pair and other individuals, usually offspring, called helpers (Johnson 2009). The presence of helpers improves fledgling success and all members in the Florida Scrub-Jay family group participate in territorial defense

(Woolfenden and Fitzpatrick 1984). Territory size averages 22 to 25 acres and Florida

Scrub-Jays occupy them year-round (USFWS 2015). In suitable habitat, <5% of Florida

Scrub-Jays disperse >8 km. New territories can be created by restoring habitat through effective management efforts in areas that were previously unsuitable (Thaxton and

Hingtgen 1994). Jonathan Dickinson State Park has increased suitable habitat for Florida

Scrub-Jays and has been designated an exemplary site of managed oak scrub by the Florida

Natural Areas Inventory.

Florida Scrub-Jays prefer habitats with more than 60% oak scrub cover, at least

10% open space, and less than 20% pine cover (USFWS 1999). The newly inhabited northern area of the park includes survey points sj108, sj109, sj118, sj119, sj139, sj300, sj301, sj302, sj303 and sj304. The only available documentation of vegetation for these points is of sj139; the % of oak shrubs: class 3, >50%, the mean height of shrub layer: class

1, <1m, the % ground cover bare sand or herbaceous <15cm: class 2, 20-50%, and the % pine tree cover: class 1, <15%. The data at sj139 indicates that the area is suitable for

Florida Scrub-Jays since the % of oak shrubs, % of open space and the % of pine tree cover all meet their habitat requirements. Controlled burns performed in this area will have

10 restored the habitat; the first prescribed burn conducted in this area occurred 10 years ago, which likely caused the movement of Florida Scrub-Jays into this newly inhabitable territory (Warraich, pers comm. 2015).

The observed movement of Florida Scrub-Jays into the northern area of the park may also be influenced by acorn availability and less competition for food. The northern area, specifically zone JD-B18 (see Fig. 5), experienced controlled burns ten years ago and again one year ago, which follows the suggested natural burn return interval that achieves optimal oak height and consequently, maximum acorn production. Re-sprouting stems of scrub oak become reproductive at 3 years and achieve peak reproduction at 5 years; burning at intervals regularly less than 5 years could reduce acorn production and decrease food availability (FNAI 2010). Funk et al. (2015) found that the bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) exhibited significantly increased acorn production the year following a prescribed burn. It is possible that increased acorn availability paired with decreased competition played an important factor in the movement since acorns are the Florida Scrub-Jays’ principle plant food (Woolfenden and Fitzpatrick 1984). Further studies need to be conducted to determine how acorn production is affected after prescription burns.

The long-term survival of the Florida Scrub-Jay depends on restoration and preservation of suitable scrub habitat (Johnson 2009). The ancient dune ecosystems that support Florida Scrub-Jays are threatened by human development along Florida’s coasts

(USFWS 2015). Xeric oak scrub is adapted to nutrient-poor soils, periodic drought and depends on frequent fires. However, as the human population increased in Florida, the fires began to pose a safety hazard and were often extinguished. Misunderstanding has also led

11 to scrub fire extinguishing; when Jonathan Dickinson State Park conducts prescribed burns, there is a sign by the park entrance to inform people that the smoke they are seeing is a result of controlled burns taking place in an attempt to keep the ecosystems in the park healthy. Fire suppression now plays as large a role as outright habitat loss in explaining the

Florida Scrub-Jay’s decline (Fitzpatrick 1994).

Fire management in areas that depend on frequent burns improves the quality of imperiled scrub ecosystems. Jonathan Dickinson will continue to monitor its population of

Florida Scrub-Jays and is planning on creating new survey points for next year’s surveys.

This is an indication of healthy scrub growth in the park, and the stabilization of the Florida

Scrub-Jay positively affects many other native species. Raising awareness and educating youth about how to protect the natural world can be extremely effective; JDSP hosts an annual Fire Fest to teach the community how prescribed burns benefit the habitat that supports the Florida Scrub-Jay and other flora and fauna that depend on it.

Literature Cited

Boughton, Raoul, R. Bowman. 2011. State wide assessment of Florida Scrub-Jays on managed areas: A comparison of current populations to the results of the 1992-93 survey. Avian Ecology Program, Archbold Biological Station.

Carter, Geoffrey, D. Breininger, E. Stolen, D. Oddy. 2011. Determinants of Nest Survival in a Managed Florida Scrub-Jay Population. Pp 629-636 in The Condor, Volume 113, No. 3 by the Cooper Ornithological Society.

Cowan, Ernest. 2005. Reproductive Success, Territory Size, and Predation Pressures of the Florida Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) at Savannas Preserve State Park. Pp 29-39 in Endangered Species Update.

DeGange, A.R., J.W. Fitzpatrick, J.E. Layne, and G.E. Woolfenden. 1989. Acorn Harvesting by Florida Scrub-jays. Ecology 70: 348-356.

Florida Natural Areas Inventory. 2010. Guide to the Natural Communities of Florida: Scrubby Flatwoods Management.

Funk, Kyle, W. Koenig, J.M.H. Knops. 2015. Fire effects on acorn production are consistent with the resource hypothesis for masting behavior. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY.

Fitzpatrick, John, B. Pranty, B. Stith. 1994. Florida Scrub Jay Statewide Map,1992-1993. Archbold Biological Station.

JDSP. 2015. Jonathan Dickinson State Park. JayWatch Database.

Johnson, S.A., K.E. Miller, T. Blunden. 2009. The Florida Scrub-jay: A Species in Peril. Document WEC261.

Korosy, Marianne. 2015. Jay Watch Volunteer Training Manual. Audubon Florida.

Miller, James and Richard Hobbs. 2007. Habitat Restoration-Do We Know What We’re Doing? Restoration Ecology 15(3): 382-390

Myers, R.L. 1990. Scrub and High Pine. Pp 150-193 in Ecosystems of Florida (R.L. Myers and J. J. Ewel, Eds.). University of Central Florida Press, Orlando, FL.

Noss, R.F., and A.Y. Cooperrider. 1994. Saving Nature’s Legacy. Island Press, Washington D.C.

Ricketts, Taylor. 1999. Terrestrial Ecoregions of North America: A Conservation Assessment. Pp 271-273.

Thaxton, J.E. and T.M. Hingtgen. 1994. Responses of Florida Scrub-Jays to management of previously abandoned habitat. District 4 Annual Research Report, Florida Park Service; Tallahassee, Florida.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1999. Florida Scrub-jay Aphelocoma coerulescens. Pp 4- 261 – 4-290 in South Florida Field Office Multi-Species Recovery Plan. Department of the Interior News Brief.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2003. Endangered Species Bulletin 28(4). From Cage to Rainforest 16-17.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2015. Status of the Species: Florida Scrub-Jay.

Woodward, J. 2005. Letting Los Angeles Go: Lessons from Feral Landscapes. Landscape Review 2:59-69.

Woolfenden, G.E., and J.W. Fitzpatrick. 1984. The Florida Scrub-jay: Demography of a Cooperative-Breeding Bird. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.

Woolfenden, G.E., and J.W. Fitzpatrick. 1986. Sexual asymmetries in the life histories of the Florida scrub jay. Pp 97-107 in D. Rubenstrin and R.W. Wrangham, eds. Ecological aspects of social evolution: birds and mammals. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey.

Woolfenden, G.E. and J.W. Fitzpatrick. 1996. Florida Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens). In The Birds of North America, No. 228 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The American Ornithologist’s Union, Washington, D. C.

Figures and Tables

Figure 1A.

Figure 1B.

Figures 1. The Florida Scrub-Jay (Apehelocoma coerulescens). Photos by Bruce Bain, professional photographer and volunteer at JDSP.

Year Families Adults Juveniles Total Birds/Family Juveniles/Family 2007 12 29 6 35 2.92 0.5 2008 15 36 10 46 3.07 0.67 2009 22 55 5 60 2.73 0.23 2010 16 40 13 53 3.31 0.81 2011 18 42 14 56 3.11 0.78 2012 16 33 4 37 2.31 0.25 2013 14 35 3 38 2.71 0.21 2014 17 33 11 44 2.59 0.65 2015 18 40 8 48 2.67 0.44

Table 2. Florida Scrub-Jay population in JDSP for 2007-2015.

Florida Scrub-Jays in JDSP 70

0 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Families Total Birds

Figure 2. Number of Florida Scrub-Jay families and total bird numbers in JDSP.

Figure 3. Florida Scrub-Jay group locations within JDSP.

Figure 4 Four new groups of unbanded (XX-XX) Florida Scrub-Jays found in the northern area of JDSP.

Figure 5. Jonathan Dickinson State Park’s controlled burn zones. Map credited to JDSP.