Florida Scrub Jays

IraRunyan

Today, October 21, 2008 JimK and I visited the Helen and Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary, in Rockledge, Florida. For Sanctuary information and driving directions see: http://flwildlife.proboards56.com/index.cgi?board=wildlifeareas&action=display&thread=254

A number of different birds were observed including Florida Scrub Jays (several had leg bands), Blue Jays, Eastern Towhee, Warblers, Doves, Red Bellied Woodpeckers, Belted Kingfisher, Bald Eagle, and some hawks. Also observed were several Bobcat and Raccoon tracks.

By far, the most abundant bird species present at the location were Florida Scrub Jays as evidenced by these photos..........

spechtal

beautiful. what are they eating?

IraRunyan

spechtal wrote:

beautiful. what are they eating?

It's an acorn from a oak tree.

JenGrace

I love scrub jays! These are great pics, glad to hear they're fairly abundant.

IraRunyan

JenGrace wrote:

I love scrub jays! These are great pics, glad to hear they're fairly abundant.

Well, that's not really the fact. When I was a small boy in the 1950's, Scrub Jays were abundant and everywhere. I remember that we played marbles in the dirt road in front of our house, and the Scrub Jays would swoop in and steal our marbles.

Nowdays, to see Scrub Jays you have to hunt for them..........

Cato

Very nice series. We don't get to see these birds around here.

JenGrace

IraRunyan wrote:

Well, that's not really the fact. When I was a small boy in the 1950's, Scrub Jays were abundant and everywhere. I remember that we played marbles in the dirt road in front of our house, and the Scrub Jays would swoop in and steal our marbles.

Nowdays, to see Scrub Jays you have to hunt for them..........

Darn, I'd hoped they were making a come back. Yet another species that may become extinct in our lifetime.

SunGlo

IraRunyan wrote:

Well, that's not really the fact. When I was a small boy in the 1950's, Scrub Jays were abundant and everywhere. I remember that we played marbles in the dirt road in front of our house, and the Scrub Jays would swoop in and steal our marbles.

Nowdays, to see Scrub Jays you have to hunt for them..........

Ira,

Awesome shots. Scrub Jays can be a real challenge to capture.

Not sure if you're aware of it, but the Florida Scrub Jay is listed as a threaten species by the State of Florida. Since they only live in Florida and don't migrate that means they're in big trouble.

I've shot (camera) them in open scrub land and they are an amazing bird. Very trusting of people...too trusting. They don't adapt well to changes in their habitat and development is slowly shrinking their range. Sad story.

Phil

IraRunyan

SunGlo wrote:

Ira,

Awesome shots. Scrub Jays can be a real challenge to capture.

Not sure if you're aware of it, but the Florida Scrub Jay is listed as a threaten species by the State of Florida. Since they only live in Florida and don't migrate that means they're in big trouble.

I've shot (camera) them in open scrub land and they are an amazing bird. Very trusting of people...too trusting. They don't adapt well to changes in their habitat and development is slowly shrinking their range. Sad story.

Phil

Yes, the Florida Scrub Jay is listed as a threatened species. These shots were taken at Helen and Allan Cruickshank Sanctuary, in Rockledge, Florida, a small peice of scrub land purchased by the Brevard County EEL program and the State of Florida to set aside habitat for the species.

Harryb

Sweet captures Ira. Those EELs purchase have done so much to preserve some of our local habitats.

Maestro

Great set of an endangered bird! I am glad to see that at least in pockets this species is still being allowed to survive.