Area Journey
Throughout an early morning jay stroll led by West Volusia Audubon Vice President Stephen Kintner, volunteers hit the paths and have been delighted to see a few of Lyonia Protect’s most charismatic inhabitants— curious teams of Florida Scrub-Jays. Many volunteers graciously supplied scrumptious snacks to accompany the beneficiant espresso donation from Starbucks. The sense of group amongst volunteers was obvious as Jay Watchers took just a few moments to collect and catch up.
Meet and Greets
Lyonia Environmental Heart Supervisor Christie Miller supplied a heat welcome to volunteers new and outdated. There was additionally a possibility to satisfy the most recent member of the Audubon Jay Watch workforce, Carrie Mohanna, who assists with the coordination of program actions.
Analysis and Outreach
Audrey DeRose-Wilson, Audubon Florida’s director of chook conservation, facilitated an in-depth have a look at Florida Scrub-Jays from quite a lot of viewpoints:
• Wildlife Biologist Mike Legare spoke concerning the inhabitants at Merritt Island Nationwide Wildlife Refuge and land administration actions.
• DeRose-Wilson supplied a recap of the 2025 statewide outcomes, information, and Jay Watch season. After fairly just a few years of surveys with no birds, the Southfork Tract virtually wasn’t surveyed this yr. After listening to from Southwest Florida Water Administration District workers that jays had returned, Jennifer Callaghan with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee led a Jay Watch survey, and confirmed that jays have been again, with two household teams detected. The habitat has appeared good at this web site for some time, so hopefully these jays increase younger subsequent yr.
• Volunteers explored the intersection of comics and conservation by the eyes of Annicka Chaffey. As an artist and science communicator, Chaffey just lately produced a comic book e book in collaboration with the avian ecology and teaching programs at Archbold Organic Station. Cora: Discovering a House within the Scrub is a narrative that educates center schoolers concerning the Florida Scrub-Jay.
Thanks to all of the volunteers who attended, introduced scrumptious treats to share, carried meals, cleaned up, shared images, and helped to make the occasion an incredible success! Subsequent time you’re hanging out with a Jay Watcher, hold an eye fixed out for the t-shirts created by Oskar Garcia, a College of Florida scholar who volunteered his time and expertise to create the beautiful design. As a small token of thanks, every volunteer on the occasion walked out with a pleasant new addition to their survey wardrobe!
This text initially appeared within the 2025 Jay Watch report. Read the full report here.
