Perhaps the tamest bird in North
America, Florida scrub jays can be tempted to take
peanuts from your fingers. These two know the
photographer has some goobers somewhere! The Florida
scrub jay is the only bird species confined entirely to
the state of Florida. It occurs in scrubs along the
Atlantic coast, the lower Gulf Coast, and in the interior
of the Florida peninsula. Scrub jays are similar to blue
jays, but lack a crest. Florida scrub jays usually live
in small family groups, called clans, consisting of the
male and female and one or more related
"helpers" who assist with defending the
territory and feeding nestlings. When they can't get
peanuts, scrub jays forage for small fruits, insects and
especially acorns, burying many in the sand for later
use. The Florida scrub jay is protected by the US as a Threatened
Species, but still is declining in numbers because
of habitat loss. You can meet these inquisitive scrub
sentinels at Lake Kissimmee State Park, Archbold
Biological station and many of the campgrounds in Ocala
National Forest.
Perhaps the tamest bird in North
America, Florida scrub jays can be tempted to take
peanuts from your fingers. These two know the
photographer has some goobers somewhere! The Florida
scrub jay is the only bird species confined entirely to
the state of Florida. It occurs in scrubs along the
Atlantic coast, the lower Gulf Coast, and in the interior
of the Florida peninsula. Scrub jays are similar to blue
jays, but lack a crest. Florida scrub jays usually live
in small family groups, called clans, consisting of the
male and female and one or more related
"helpers" who assist with defending the
territory and feeding nestlings. When they can't get
peanuts, scrub jays forage for small fruits, insects and
especially acorns, burying many in the sand for later
use. The Florida scrub jay is protected by the US as a Threatened
Species, but still is declining in numbers because
of habitat loss. You can meet these inquisitive scrub
sentinels at Lake Kissimmee State Park, Archbold
Biological station and many of the campgrounds in Ocala
National Forest. 
