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Breininger et al. 1995; Breiningor and Oddy 1998). Management Of the matrix habitat types as low, open habitat areas enhances the dispersal potential of scrub jays (Breininger and Oddy 1998), The spatial arrangement of habitat structure affects demographic success and must be considered in management for population persistence of Florida scrub -jays (Breininger et al. 1991, 1995, 1998a; Duncun et al. 1995; Breininger and Oddy 1998). Mesic flatwood forests that were observed to be present on historical imagery within the Scrub -Jay Habitat Compensation Areas and are located >328' (100rn) from focal scrub habitat types were not classified as potential scrub -jay habitat to be covered Under this HCP. Each habitat polygon was also evaluated to define management needs for restoration to conditions that are optimal for scrub -jays. This includes habitat quality considerations of pine thinning and shrub height class It also defines the current extent of habitat use by existing scrub -jay territories to avoid negative impacts to management actions. these territories as a result of proposed habitat restoration and i n The acreage of habitat currently used by scrub -jays on the Scrub -Jay Habitat Compensation Areas was determined to assist in the determination of the regulatory sufficiency of this HCP. Optimal scrub -jay habitat features a tree canopy cover of less than 15%. Therefore, potential scrub -jay habitat polygons exhibiting a tree canopy cover of greater than 15% are recommended for pine thinning. Review of Table 5 shows that pine thinning is recommended within most of the habitat polygons. The shrub height mapping classes evaluated for each habitat polygon included: 1.) too short [entire polygon < 3.9' (1.2m) tail], 2,) optimal 1polygon exhibited a mosaic of too short (<3.9' (1.2m)) and optimal (3.9-5.6' (1.2-1.7m WIWI and had no too tall scrub [>5.6 (1.7m) tail] patch greater than 1 acre in size, 3.) mixed tall (polygon exhibited a mix of too tall patches > 1 acre in size and short and/or optimal scrub), and 4.) too tall [entire polygon was >5.6' (1.7rn tal0l. This attribute Was used to classify habitat quality within the shrub stratum for purposes Of recommending mechanical and fire management needs. Table 6, 11abitat Quality Classification Regarding Shrub ]]eight an(I 1-labital Managetrient Needs, describes each habitat quality attribute. Scrub -Jay Occuparlgy Sttrclies The final characteristic that was evaluated was the determination of present Use Of the habitat polygon by Florida scrub -jays. As presented above in Section 3.2, the known remaining scrub -jay territories located within the compensation areas and affected lots were censused by SES for 51 hours between July 19, 1998 and October 14, 1998 using FWS recommended methods set forth in Fitzpatrick et al. (1991). Where contiguous territories did not facilitate initiation of disPutes between families to define territory boundaries, occupancy of a habitat polygon area was based on observed presence or absence of scrub -jays, in conjunction with an AA,