Community Science is Saving the Florida Scrub-Jay

The Florida Scrub-Jay is our state’s only endemic bird species, found nowhere else in the world. Federally Threatened under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Endangered Species Act in 1987, the state’s population of Florida Scrub-Jays is estimated to have declined by 90% since the early 1800s. These declines are largely due to loss of native scrub habitat to development, agriculture, and decades of fire exclusion that allowed the scrub to become overgrown and unsuitable for scrub-jays.

Declining numbers argue that more needs to be done to keep Florida Scrub-Jays flying and Jay Watchers play a vital role in the conservation of these iconic birds. Not only do Jay Watchers contribute data to inform management decisions that benefit scrub-jays, but Jay Watch provides support and resources for individuals and communities to advocate for land use and habitat management policies and decisions that benefit their local populations of jays.

20 YEARS OF JAY WATCH

For 20 years, Jay Watch volunteers have monitored jays at sites where managers and researchers do not have resources dedicated to the species. A significant challenge of a large-scale volunteer data effort like Jay Watch is ensuring that data collected by hundreds of volunteers at dozens of sites is consistent and reliable. At the very start of Jay Watch, a committee of researchers and managers developed a scientifically rigorous protocol for estimating scrub-jay numbers and reproductive success that performed well across sites with very different habitat characteristics and jay populations. Since then, this data collection protocol and the volunteers who implement it have stood the test of time. The program is now a model that demonstrates the effectiveness of community science done right. 

In 2012, Audubon Florida began coordinating the Jay Watch community science program statewide. We train and support volunteers to monitor Florida Scrub-Jays at more than 45 sites in 19 counties. Jay Watch volunteers provide annual data for many public lands that do not have enough staff to perform regular surveys on their own.

How is this information used? In land management, policy work, and outreach initiatives. 

JAY WATCH DATA LEADS TO BETTER OUTCOMES

Land management: Because the jays live in Florida scrub habitat, which needs to be burned or managed with mechanical treatment to persist, many land managers in Florida rely on Jay Watch data as they plan prescribed burns to ensure optimal habitat. Data contributed by Jay Watchers is used by land managers when making decisions about when and where to conduct prescribed fires to create better habitat, increase nesting success, and ultimately support more scrub-jays.

Policy: Jay Watch data is used in public meetings to support pro-jay habitat management, including decisions about encroaching development and habitat management plans.

Outreach: Audubon staff members are regularly called upon to give their expertise to media outlets. In the past year, articles have appeared in the Orlando Sentinel and the Tampa Bay Times and another is slated for BirdWatching Daily Magazine. These pieces spread the word on how we can protect this unique species.

ALL THANKS TO JAY WATCHERS

Audubon’s work would not be possible without the amazing cadre of dedicated volunteers who go above and beyond to ensure they follow the proper protocols when counting scrub-jays. Each year, Audubon staff provides training for new volunteers and reviews advanced protocols for veteran surveyors. In all, more than 90 volunteers contributed nearly 1000 hours performing field surveys across the state this year. See the infographic on page 8. We thank every volunteer for their heroic efforts, as well as the supporters of this program.

This article originally appeared in the 2022 Jay Watch report. Read the full report here.