The Florida Scrub Jay is the only bird that is endemic to Florida. They are Federally Threatened and occasionally present in a variety of xeric scrub habitats throughout much of the State. Fire suppression and habitat destruction/fragmentation has negatively impacted scrub jay communities throughout much of their range.
The main factor in an area being considered potential scrub jay habitat is the presence of scrub oaks ("no matter how sparsely distributed", USFWS). Scrub oaks mature to a maximum height of about 20-feet, but provide the best scrub jay habitat at around 6-feet when periodically maintained by wildfires. We determine if a property has potential scrub jay habitat during a preliminary Listed Species Habitat Assessment.
If scrub oaks are present and the property is within the scrub jay consultation area (see map below), USFWS typically requires you to prove these birds are not on the property by having an environmental consultant complete a 5-day Scrub Jay Survey. Scrub jay surveys can be conducted between March 1st and October 31st. If scrub jays are found, you will be required to purchase mitigation credits from a nearby scrub jay conservation bank prior to development.
The main factor in an area being considered potential scrub jay habitat is the presence of scrub oaks ("no matter how sparsely distributed", USFWS). Scrub oaks mature to a maximum height of about 20-feet, but provide the best scrub jay habitat at around 6-feet when periodically maintained by wildfires. We determine if a property has potential scrub jay habitat during a preliminary Listed Species Habitat Assessment.
If scrub oaks are present and the property is within the scrub jay consultation area (see map below), USFWS typically requires you to prove these birds are not on the property by having an environmental consultant complete a 5-day Scrub Jay Survey. Scrub jay surveys can be conducted between March 1st and October 31st. If scrub jays are found, you will be required to purchase mitigation credits from a nearby scrub jay conservation bank prior to development.
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