SEBASTIAN AREA-WIDE SCRUB-JAY HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN & Public Use Improvements Beth Powell Conservation Lands Manager Parks Division Indian River County
Description of the HCP Allows for Incidental Take Permits (ITPs) to be issued on scrub lots in the Sebastian Highlands 317 1/4 acre lots totaling (79.3 acres) ITPs are mitigated by the conservation land acquisitions & management of 324 acres habitable by the Florida Scrub Jay North Sebastian Conservation Area (406 acres) Sebastian Highlands Conservation Area (10 acres) Wabasso Scrub Conservation Area (111 acres) Pelican Island Elementary School Scrub Lots (+12 acres) Sebastian Airport Scrub Area (38 acres)
HCP Guidelines & Requirements Habitat Restoration/Enhancement for the Florida Scrub-Jay mechanical enhancement (timbering, etc.) prescribed burning exotics removal Protection of the Conservation Areas e.g. fencing, monitoring, patrolling, etc. Monitoring of the Florida Scrub-Jays and Other Key Species report findings to U.S. Fish & Wildlife annually
The Florida Scrub Ranked by the Florida Natural Areas Inventory as Imperiled Globally & in the State of Florida 70-85% lost since presettlement times (Bergen 1994; Fitzpatrick et al 1994a) and 90% loss in Indian River County (Fernald 1989) Pyrogenic Community (Fire Dependent) Dominated by Evergreen Oaks (Quercus spp.)
The Florida Scrub Occurring on the Sandy, Well-Drained Soils of Relict Coastal and Inland Dune Systems Unique to Peninsular Florida Habitat Loss Due to Commercial & Residential Development
Scrub Species Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) Threatened Status - USFWS & FWC
Scrub Species Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) Adult Juvenile < 5 mos. old
Scrub Species Florida Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) Species of Special Concern - FWC
Scrub Species Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon corais couperi) Threatened Status - USFWS & FWC
Scrub Species Florida Scrub-Lizard (Sceloporus woodi)
Scrub Species Gopher Frog (Rana capito) Species of Special Concern - FWC
Scrub Species South Eastern Five-Lined Skink (Eumeces inexpectatus)
The Florida Scrub-Jay Blue & Gray Crestless Jay no difference in size or color between sexes Only Bird Endemic to Peninsular Florida Average Territory - 22 acres Family Size Ranges from 2-8 Individuals Naturally Fearless Listed as a Threatened Species by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 1987
The Florida Scrub-Jay Unique Social System permanent monogomy year-round territoriality cooperative breeding intrafamilial dominance heirarchy delayed dispersal - juveniles stay with parents 1-2 years and help with territorial defense scanning for predators feeding the nestlings & fledglings food caching sentinel system
The Florida Scrub-Jay in Sebastian, Florida Between 1991-1998 the population of Sebastian s scrub-jays declined 45% - from 35 breeding pairs to only 16 Reasons for population decrease: habitat loss (development) habitat fragmentation decreased nesting success decreased dispersal success degraded habitat quality caused by development & fire exclusion increased predation by cats, dogs and other predators not normally found in optimal xeric oak scrub habitat
The Florida Scrub-Jay in Sebastian, Florida Consists of 2 Sub-populations (separated by at least 2.2 miles) South population = 9 families (Wabasso SCA, Units 10 & 17 of Sebastian Highlands.) North population = 4 families (NSCA) At least 5 families on the Airport & P.I.E. properties
The Florida Scrub-Jay in Sebastian, Florida Optimal Habitat Requirements: >50% shrub layer being comprised of scrub oaks 10-30% open space (bare sand or sparse vegetation 0-15% pine canopy cover shrub height of 3.9-5.6 >328 from a forest
The Florida Scrub-Jay in Sebastian, Florida Family size averaged 3.0 individuals per group Clutch size average 3.8 Median incubation date April 7th Median hatching date April 24th Success rate at 72% nestlings fledged Mean annual productivity 1.9 young fledged per pair, per year Median fledging date May 10th 70% nesting attempts were successful in fledging at least one young
Scrub-Jay Nesting Success Study in Sebastian, Florida 100 90 91 80 70 67 60 50 48 40 30 20 25 10 0 Optimal Suboptimal Ancillary Lawn
Management Activities Taking Place: North Sebastian Conservation Area Wabasso Scrub Conservation Area Sebastian Highlands Conservation Area Pelican Island Elementary School Scrub Habitat Sebastian Airport Scrub Habitat Timbering/Pine Canopy Thinning Fencing and Gating Access Points Prescribed Fire/Burn Mechanical Habitat Enhancement Public Use Improvements Exotics Removal (Flora & Fauna) Monitoring
Fencing and Gating Access Points
Prescribed Fire/Burn
Mechanical Habitat Enhancement
Mechanical Habitat Enhancement
Monitoring Scrub Jays
Monitoring Gopher Tortoises
Monitoring Gopher Tortoises Inactive Active
Exotics Removal (Flora & Fauna) Brazilian pepper Wild hogs
Public Use Improvements
Public Use Improvements Captain Forster Hammock Preserve Opened Feb. 17, 2003 Restrooms (above) Trails (left)
Public Use Improvements Captain Forster Hammock Preserve Restrooms/Trailhead (above) Entrance IR Lagoon (left)
Funding North Sebastian Conservation Area funded in part by the Florida Communities Trust Florida Forever Program
Funding Received grant through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Land & Water Conservation Fund Total Project Cost: $206,000 Restrooms Parking Boardwalk/Piers/Observation Tower ADA Stabilized Nature Trail ADA Paved Fitness Trail & Equipment 4 miles Biking, Hiking, Horseback Trails Equestrian Trailhead
Conceptual Plan NORTH SEBASTI AN CONSERVATION AREA PUBLIC USE (NEW) IMPROVEMENTS Multi-Use Trail - Accessible Fishing Pier Boardwalk Multi-Use Trails Proposed Fitness Trails/Parking & Restrooms
Opportunities for Your Involvement Pepper Busting Species Monitoring Volunteering at Work Days Policing Conservation Areas Education Plant & Animal Inventory Help Attending Public Scoping Meetings
Why Save the Scrub-Jay? "Men still live who, in their youth remember pigeons; trees still live that, in their youth, were shaken by a living wind. But a few decades hence only the oldest oaks will remember, and at long last only the hills will know. We grieve because no living man will ever see again the onrush of victorious birds, sweeping a path for spring across the March skies, chasing the defeated winter from all of the woods and prairies. There will always be pigeons in books and in museums but they are dead to all hardships and to all delights. They cannot dive out of a cloud, nor clap their wings in thunderous applause. They know no urge of seasons; they feel no kiss of sun, no lash of wind and weather, they live forever by not living at all." From a Monument to the Pigeon Aldo Leopold, 1947
Why Save the Scrub-Jay? "Birds are an 'ecological litmus paper'. Because of their rapid metabolism and wide geographical range, they reflect changes in the environment quickly; they warn us of things out of balance sending out signals whenever there is a deterioration in the ecosystem..." - Roger Tory Peterson
Some things are not for sale.