Download Sebastian Area-Wide Scrub-Jay Habitat Conservation Plan and

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 3.95.6’
– >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
48
50
40
30
25
20
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
9Restrooms
9Parking
9Boardwalk/Piers/Observation Tower
9ADA Stabilized Nature Trail
9ADA Paved Fitness Trail & Equipment
94 miles Biking, Hiking, Horseback Trails
9Equestrian Trailhead
Conceptual Plan
Opportunities for Your Involvement
Pepper Busting
Education
Species
Plant & Animal
Monitoring
Volunteering at
“Work Days”
“Policing”
Conservation
Areas
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….