Teamwork in the Scrub: The Remarkable Florida Scrub Jay

This month’s issue is all about people helping people, so we wanted to take a look at a unique native species with some inspiring community dynamics: the Florida scrub jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens)!

QUICK FACTS

• Scrub jays are Florida’s only endemic bird.

• They are 10-12 inches long from beak to tail tip, with bright blue wings, tail, and head, and a soft gray back and belly.

• They are non-migratory, staying in the same family territory year-round.

• Scrub jays are super smart! They’re in the family Corvidae, which includes brainy birds like crows, ravens, and other jays.

• Breeding pairs mate for life.

WHERE CAN I FIND SCRUB JAYS?

Only in Florida! As mentioned above, scrub jays are Florida’s only endemic bird which means they are found only here in Florida – you won’t find them anywhere else in the world. They live in areas of the state known as scrub, which occurs on ancient sand dunes, ridges, and flatlands.

These habitats are characterized by an open, sunny structure with often stunted, shrub-like plants that are maintained by periodic fire. Scrub habitats are found in patches throughout Central Florida, including areas like:

• The Lake Wales Ridge

• Ocala National Forest

• Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

• And some conservation lands in coastal counties

Florida scrub jays rely specifically on this habitat for a few key reasons. They primarily use the low-growing shrubs and trees for nesting. The short stature of these plants allows the birds to stay low enough to the ground to keep watch from predators while remaining hidden in the dense branches. Scrub jays are also ground foragers, so the open ground structure of the scrub provides the perfect environment for them to find insects, seeds, and acorns.

Scrub is one of Florida’s fire-maintained ecosystems. Without fire, trees grow too tall to be prime scrub jay nesting habitat, and understory growth becomes too thick for easy scrub jay foraging. This makes the habitat balance extremely delicate, meaning Florida scrub jays are virtually unable to survive outside of properly maintained scrub ecosystems.

SCRUB JAYS HELPING SCRUB JAYS

One of the most fascinating things about scrub jays (and what makes them a perfect highlight for this month’s issue!) is their family structure. These birds practice cooperative breeding, which means that young birds stay with their parents for several years to help raise their younger siblings.

This teamwork gives scrub jay families higher survival rates, and it’s a rare trait among birds in North America. Helpers assist by feeding new chicks, guarding the nest, and warning the mated pair about predators. It’s like having multiple built-in babysitters–that you don’t have to pay!

Some helpers assist the breeding male in foraging for food, especially while the female is incubating eggs, and for the baby jays; others act as “sentinels,” alerting the other scrub jays of any predators nearby. This lets the mated pair focus more on supporting the nestlings, which is better for the population as a whole!

There have even been documented cases where pairs of Florida scrub-jays that were unsuccessful in hatching their own brood assisted neighboring parents in raising their chicks. By essentially splitting parenting duties, the extra help reduced the “cost” of care for the breeding pair.

Florida scrub-jays truly take the phrase “it takes a village” to heart.

Did You Know?

The cooperative behavior of Florida scrub-jays stands in contrast to brood parasitism, a reproductive strategy used by some other birds in Florida. In brood parasitism, females lay their eggs in other birds’ nests and leave the parenting to others—essentially outsourcing child care entirely!

WHAT’S CAUSING SCRUB JAY POPULATION DECLINE?

Unfortunately, Florida scrub jays are a threatened species, with population numbers dropping over the last few decades. The primary causes include a lack of natural and prescribed fire, habitat loss from development, and decreasing quality of existing scrub.

We know that scrub habitats require fire to maintain their specific vegetation height and density. Unfortunately, we’ve dramatically reduced the amount of natural fire that occurs in Florida due to development, roads, and human safety concerns. Without natural fire rotations, and without using prescribed burns to mimic natural fire patterns, scrub landscapes quickly become overgrown, shading out the open spaces scrub jays rely on.

We’re also inclined to build houses, businesses, roads, and neighborhoods in the areas of the state that are least prone to flooding–which happen to be upland habitats, including scrub. Because this land is prime real estate for development, areas of historic scrub are being slowly chipped away.

Even in the scrub habitats that remain, improper management can create a structure that isn’t right for scrub jays to nest and thrive. As a unique, habitat-specific species, these birds may be quite resilient, but they still need the proper cover and food sources to support their populations.

HOW CAN WE HELP?

Florida scrub jays may help one another, but there are several things we can do to help them out as well!

• RESPECT THE SCRUB: Scrub habitats are extremely delicate, so when visiting a scrub area, follow posted signs, stay on trails, and never feed wild scrub jays–it’s best to observe from a safe distance!

• VOLUNTEER TO MONITOR SCRUB JAYS: Join “Jay Watch,” a citizen science project led by Audubon Florida and Archbold Biological Station to monitor scrub-jay populations.

• IF YOU OWN LAND THAT HAS SCRUB HABITAT: Own scrub habitat? UF/IFAS Extension offers science based tools and connects landowners with technical assistance for habitat restoration.

• EDUCATE YOURSELF AND OTHERS: Share what you’ve learned to help others understand and support scrub-jay conservation.

For more information, please reach out to us at UF/IFAS Extension Polk County or directly to our office via email (scarnevale@ufl.edu). Looking for ‘learning on the go’? Check out the Naturally Florida podcast, available on all major podcast platforms.