 |
Nikon and The Brevard Nature Alliance present the Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival Brevard Community College, Titusville Campus 1311 North U.S. Highway 1, Titusville January 24 - 28, 2007 -- Titusville, Florida A celebration of birds and wildlife. |
The Florida Scrub-Jay the only bird species that is endemic to the state; that is out of more than 400 species of birds that migrate through or live in Florida, the Florida Scrub-Jay is the only bird that is found strictly in Florida. As its name suggests, it lives in a habitat referred to as "scrub," which exists in isolated patches throughout the central peninsula. The name scrub certainly does not do justice to these rich and diverse areas - some would refer to them as Florida's ancient desert.
Scrub habitat evolved when North America was much drier and desert animals from Texas and Mexico colonized Florida. When the oceans rose, the plants and animals remained and evolved into an eco-system unlike any other in the world. Florida's desert-like prehistoric sand ridges are home to marvelous animals such as the armadillo, gopher tortoise, indigo snake, scrub lizard, Crested Caracara and Burrowing Owl. Dozens of plants and animals living in Florida scrub are found nowhere else on the planet.
One of these animals is the Florida Scrub-Jay, which lives among the low growing scrub oaks, eating and "stashing" its acorns. Each Scrub-Jay will harvest and bury for later usage, from six to eight thousand acorns every year. Scrub-Jays live in family units and these families occupy and defend distinct territories. Within their territory, family members (parents, siblings and even grandparents) feed new chicks and cooperate in foraging for food, watching for predators and even attacking intruders. Florida Scrub-Jays are among only 2% of all birds known (and the only jay) that exhibit this fascinating practice of cooperative breeding. Less than 10% of the large populations of Scrub-Jays that once inhabited Florida's open oak scrubs survive today.
Unfortunately, the future of scrub habitat and its occupants, like the Scrub-Jay, is uncertain. Scrub needs to burn in order to survive, as the fires help rejuvenate the growth of oak shrubs while preventing trees such as pines from taking over. Until recently, fires have been put out as quickly as possible, causing many scrub areas to change into forested habitats unsuitable for animals like the Scrub-Jay. The habitat is dry and well drained, which makes it desirable for development. The arid sandy soils of Florida's scrub habitats comprise the state's most crucial aquifer recharge areas. Many Floridians get their drinking water from the underground aquifer. More than 90% of Florida's historical scrublands have been converted to shopping malls and housing tracts. Efforts are underway to preserve and manage portions of remaining scrub to ensure the future survival of these wondrous areas and their resident species.
It is fun and challenging to search for Scrub-Jays. Look for a blue colored bird that is the same size as a Blue Jay sitting in the tops of oak shrubs in scrub habitat. A Scrub-Jay has a blue head, blue back and a long blue tail, with a contrasting grayish-brown patch on its back. The stomach is light gray. It has a distinctive dark gray necklace or collar on the front of its chest with distinct streaking below and a whitish forehead and white eyebrow. Varied vocalizations include raspy hoarse notes and a "shree, shree, shree" call. Hint: unlike Blue Jays, Florida Scrub-Jays do not have a crested head and they have NO white in the wings and tail.
Cover Photo Credit: Thomas Dunkerton
Tom has been an avid nature photographer since 2004. This photograph is the cover picture on our 2007 printed program. It was taken last year on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station while Tom was a field research technician for the Florida Scrub-Jay Project. The pictured jay was one of over 300 Scrub-Jays who call the Kennedy Space Center home. To see more of Tom's photography, visit www.pbase.com/boidpikchas.
2007 Festival Articles
2007 Keynote Speakers
Back to Festival HomePage