Laserfiche WebLink
remaining territories is provided in Section 2.1 above, one notable increase <br />h <br />occurred in the Sebastian Highlands -Unit 17/Pelican Island Elementary School south <br />f <br />subpopulation cluster, where the scrub -jay territories increased from 3 to 5. This <br />increase in territories was a result of territory budding by 2 colorbanded males. <br />r <br />i, The Sebastian south subpopulation also includes the Wabasso Scrub Conservation <br />Area cluster containing 2, possibly 3, breeding pairs. The Wabasso Scrub <br />Conservation Area is located just south of the incorporated limits of the City of <br />Sebastian (see Figure 2). The Wabasso Scrub Conservation Area is less than 1 mile <br />south of the Pelican island Elementary School/Sebastian Highlands Conservation <br />Area scrub -jay subpopulation (see Figure 2 - "Unit 17 Conservation Areas"). The <br />Wabasso Scrub Conservation Area scrub -jay families were colorbanded in support <br />of demographic studies during 1988 through 1991 (Toland 1995, unpubl. ,data). <br />Several dispersals between this cluster and the Pelican Island Elementary School <br />cluster occurred between 1990 and 1993 (Toland unpubl. data) <br />Two colorbanded scrub -jay families were monitored at the Wabasso Scrub <br />Conservation Area through the 1996-97 breeding season. These families primarily <br />occupy the north one-half of the conservation tract. The 1998 survey conducted <br />at the Wabasso Scrub Conservation Area in support of this HCP found that these 2 <br />families continued to occupy nearly the same habitat areas. However, a third pair <br />of unhanded scrub -jays was observed foraging in the northernmost section of the <br />habitat restoration parcel that was mechanically renovated in January 1998. This <br />area is adjacent to, and south of, the two historic territories (Toland unpubl. data). <br />"Therefore, the 1998 nesting season included a total of 2. distinct Florida scrub jay <br />I it possibly pioneering a territory in the restored area. <br />' ries and a third a Y p J <br />ternto p p <br />Each of the 2 colorbanded scrub -jay families at Wabasso Scrub Conservation Area <br />included 2 juveniles as recent as August 6, 1998. Therefore, their mean annual <br />productivity was 2.0 nutritionally -independent young per pair per year. Nesting was <br />not recorded for the third and newest pair of scrub -jays that were observed <br />foraging in the northern section of the habitat restoration parcel, as well as on tile <br />adjacent golf course. Although the number of territories (2) remained stable on the <br />Wabasso Scrub Conservation Area from 1988 through 1998, individuals per family <br />had been declining prior to habitat restoration in 1998 (Toland unpubl, data). <br />Implementation of the Wabasso Scrub Conservation Area Habitat Restoration and <br />(Management Plan (SES 1996) during early- 1998 initially appears to have been <br />successful in restoring habitat conditions that are suitable for recruitment of an <br />additional scrub -jay on this conservation tract. Additional habitat restoration and <br />management activities, as covered under this HCP, are needed on Wabasso Scrub <br />Conservation Area to optimize the scrub habitat for use by scrub -jays. <br />39 <br />