The Florida Scrub Jay is the only species of bird endemic to the state of Florida. Because of this, it is heavily sought by birders who travel across the country to observe this unique species. Inquisitive and intelligent, the Scrub Jay is remarkably tame, often willing to take food from the hand of a human; however, this tameness can be dangerous to the well being of the species.
The Scrub Jay is found only in Florida's scrub habitat, an ecosystem found only in central Florida. This habitat has dwindled considerably as Florida has continued to develop. The Florida Scrub Jay has been listed as threatened since 1975. In 1993 there were estimated to be only 4,000 breeding pairs in the wild. Despite the protections, the Scrub Jay is still thought to be on the decline. Another attempt to conserve the bird is the campaign to make the Florida Scrub Jay the new state bird of Florida, instead of the mockingbird. The mockingbird is the state bird of numerous other states, while the Scrub Jay is exclusive to Florida.
After learning these facts, I felt I was lucky to spot this beautiful bird.
