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` <br />' <br />landscape are expected to be short-term. This is due to continued degradation of <br />�F w ' adequately —mortality^' <br />and �o �oma~~~ v�vnmhUhv o� U� ~~~o1aypopulation ~ road ~n~ to <br />: <br />� <br />predation by species common to suburban environments, such as blue jays, fish <br />urovvo, boat -tailed grackles (Uvisnamx major), common grackles (Cl Ymscula), <br />raccoons, and house cats (Fitzpatrick *ral. 1391; Oreiningor1389). Fitzpatrick et � <br />vt (1931> reported that vehicular \/oMio through scrub -jay habitat significantly ^� <br />increases the mortality rate within a population of scrub -jays. Scrob'ioy survival <br />mum adjacent to highways were significantly lower (0.57) than that found in no,ub' <br />: <br />]ay tenkudns lacking paved roads <0.79) (Fitzpatrick et al. 1331). Long after scrub - <br />jays havebocowahabitueiodtnmaior,ro(hothurovAh(ums.*hoiriow+a|dtodoOight / <br />profile makes (homvu|oumWo to collisions with vehicles (B,eininUo/unpub|. data; <br />Management of opdna| uxmh-joy hubkuu conditions within the currently * <br />fragmented scrub patches located within the residential lots ofthe vast Sebastian | <br />� <br />Highlands subdiviniond`roughpmnohbnd fire would he significantly constrained by <br />' ,he proximity of the residential homes. Fire is oxxando| to maintaining optimal <br />� <br />scrub -jay habitat conditions <VVmdhmUov and Rorpm,ioh 1991; K0mvo,s 1980. <br />- 8chmabore/al. 1984 Bminingere/al. 1996W. The documented decline ofFlorida <br />oorub'jaypopu|adons is attributed topoor habitat quality resulting from disruption � <br />of nmore| h,o regimes (Be|nin0nr 1989/ 8mininOor e/ a{ 1985' 1986a' 1998h' 1 <br />1988b. 1998; Fitzpatrick */x/ 1991; VVou|hmdun arid Fitzpatrick 1984). Although <br />the epp|iuuhnn vfmechanical cutting techniques can successfully reduce the height <br />of the oomb vogomhun and orunm openings p,ofaood by ourub`}aya' mechanical | <br />treatments have not been found to be o ovhmitvt(I for fire in the long-term � <br />management of optimal ucmb-jay habitat conditions (Sohma|zar e/ w/ 1984; <br />' VVnoUondon arid Fitzpatrick 1391). Without fire management, the /m0me^md scrubhabitat within the platted lots of the Sebastian Highlands subdivision will Succeed <br />� <br />� <br />stageto a <br />' dense _ be compatible —ith— Florida scrub-jay_habitat—^ <br />requirements.The ^ <br />= ^ <br />scrub -jay ' . . within the City of Sebastian, excluding__ -- , <br />~~ VVabeaoo Scrub Conservation Area, declined 54% if) seven <7> voam from 35 <br />� <br />territories in 1931 to 16territories in 1888. This significant pnpu/ubno decline can � <br />be attributed to multiple development -related factors, as presented above. Because <br />of poor demographic success, all su6urban Populations that have oeen studied are <br />declining (Fitzpatrick et al. 1994a). The long-term effects of the No Action <br />Alternative would be probable extinction of the remaining 13 or 14. (includes tile <br />Wabasso Scrub Conservation Area) Florida scrub -jay families located within tile <br />HCP Plan Area in tile near future, <br />, <br />Under Alternative 1, the purpose or need for taking the proposed action would not be satisfied, arid was therefore determined to be, an infeasiblo alternativo. 66 ^ <br />