Dozens flock to district lands for annual scrub jay count
PALM BAY, Fla., July 11, 2016 — Donning binoculars and clutching clipboards, 78 volunteers fanned out across two St. Johns River Water Management District properties to tally threatened Florida scrub jays.
“Our dedicated volunteers are critical to the success of the district’s tracking of these friendly, amazing birds,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle. “Florida scrub jay populations and their habitats have dwindled over the decades. We’re doing whatever we can to sustain the scrub jay families located on our properties.”
Volunteers spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings counting the rare birds at Buck Lake Conservation Area in Brevard and Volusia counties and Lake Monroe Conservation Area in Volusia County.
Audubon Florida coordinates the Jay Watch citizen science program statewide. Volunteers measure annual nesting success and count the total number of Florida scrub jays at more than 50 sites in 19 counties. Last year, 277 volunteers invested over 3,000 hours sharpening their skills in onsite trainings and performing field surveys across the state.
The data gathered by volunteers will take a few weeks to tabulate before it is sent to Florida Audubon, which develops a statewide annual report.