Rare Florida Scrub-Jay Reported in ELAPP Lands

By Sandy Townsend, Newsletter Editor

A Florida Scrub-Jay spotted in Southeastern Hillsborough County in December traveled nearly 10 miles to find a new home, a distance not typical for the rarity.

The scrub jay was spotted at Balm Boyette Scrub Nature Preserve Dec. 7 by iNaturalist users niccolejs and zacgaryfla, then again Dec. 14 by Tampa Audubon member Charlie Fisher during the Alafia Banks Christmas Bird Count. The rarity has not been recorded in that area for 20 years or more.

The bird was banded in January 2025 nearly 10 miles away at the Moody Branch Wildlife and Environmental Area in Duette (Manatee County). The jay was banded by Quest Ecology.

A 10-mile dispersal is pretty far for a Florida Scrub-Jay, reports James Robe from Hillsborough County Conservation & Environmental Lands Management.

“Typically, they disperse no more than a few miles,” said Robe, an environmental lands management specialist. “However, this is only half of the longest dispersals recorded. It’s an encouraging sign that birds are naturally moving north into ELAPP lands.

“Little Manatee River Corridor Nature Preserve, Balm Scrub Nature Preserve, and Stacy White Nature Preserve all act as segments of a wildlife corridor up to Balm Boyette Scrub.”

The ELAPP program (Jan K. Platt Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program), under the Hillsborough County Department of Conservation & Environmental Lands Management, manages Florida Scrub habitat for Florida scrub-jays (among other imperiled species).

“It’s hugely encouraging to see the bird naturally disperse back into those once occupied habitats,” Robe said. “It’s been nearly 20 years or more since the last Scrub-Jay was spotted in Balm Boyette Scrub.”

Citizen scientists and naturalists, such as those at iNaturalist, eBird, and Audubon frequently act as the eyes and ears of land management organizations, Robe said.