Florida Scrub Jay
Sandhill Crane
Bald Eagle
Roseate Spoonbill

Listed as "Threatened" by both the federal government and the State of Florida, the Florida Scrub-jay is the 'mascot' for our Martin County Audubon Society.   Although scrub-jays were once a fairly common species in Martin County, the majority of the scrub habitat that this species requires has been replaced by urban development.  Less than 20 widely-dispersed, but geographically isolated clans still remain in Martin County, where they are year-round residents. 

AoMC actively encourages the use of fire as a management technique to maintain habitat for scrub-jays.  Most of the scrub-jays in Martin County are found on publicly-owned lands, with Jonathan Dickinson State Park and the adjoining Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge being the local strongholds for this species.

HAVE YOU SEEN ME?
AoMC is searching for the Scrub Jays in your yard, neighbors yard or in the undeveloped lands across Martin County.  These birds are very curious and send up their sentinel to check out visitors.  Let us know where you have seen them... a research biologist from Archbold Research Station will band them as part of a project to track the bird populations, range and their nesting successes.

We are also looking for a Scrub Jay Project Manager to help in the research we are conducting on these birds. Call our offices with your sightings or if you can help with the research.

Scrub Jay Resources

Scrub-jay Watch by Pam Hopkins       Download and Print Scrub-jay Pamphlet In PDF format.
More Scrub-jay pics
Florida Scrub-jay- Audio Report on Lake Wales Ridge Scrub Jays with bird call
Florida Jay- John James Audubon's original text and painting of the "Florida Jay"

	Listed as "Threatened" by the State of Florida. Florida Sandhill Cranes are year-round residents in Martin County.  Being a wetland-dependant species, Sandhill cranes have benefited from Martin County's stringent wetland protection regulations.  During the fall, winter and spring, the population of Sandhill cranes in Martin County increases considerably, when the slightly-larger migratory sub-species returns from northerly latitudes to spend the winter. Sandhill cranes have been present in Florida for thousands of years.  Without too much interference from us they will be around for many more.
Remember - It is a Federal Crime to feed these birds! Sandhill cranes are interesting and noteworthy members of the bird population in Florida's Treasure Coast.  Historically, these large, heavy bodied, long-legged birds have inhabited open grassland, prairies and fresh water marshes throughout much of Florida. Standing over 3 feet tall and having a wingspan of over 6 feet, a close-up sight of a Sandhill crane is an unforgettable experience;  these cranes are generally brownish-gray but have a distinctive, bright red crown.
Please refrain from feeding Sandhill cranes.  A crane that is fed by people is more likely to become a dead crane. Discourage others from feeding them. Use caution when driving near Sandhill crane nesting areas.  Use particular care during spring time; there is a period of approximately 30 days when the youngsters can walk but cannot yet fly.  That is when the parents will often take them foraging along roadsides. If you find an injured crane or other wildlife, catch it if you can, and transport it to the Treasure Coast  Wildlife Hospital or your nearest wildlife rehabilitator. Keep pets indoors or controlled on a leash, for their safety and for the cranes. Help keep wetlands free from Brazilian pepper trees and other pest plants "Adopt" a crane family.  Help keep them safe by protecting nesting and feeding area. Share this information with friends and neighbors. Florida Sandhill cranes stand +- 3 feet tall and have a wingspread of approximately 6 feet. Males and females look alike, but the males are usually a little larger. In the wild, Sandhill cranes may live for over 25 years. Research has shown that the majority of a Sandhill crane's diet is plant matter (e.g., seeds, grains, berries and tubers,  They'll also eat insects, snails, reptiles, amphibians and small mammals. Sandhill Cranes mate for life, but will search for a new mate if one of a pair dies. Sandhill cranes will not use the same nest year after year, but will return to the same general area if a nesting season has been successful. They typically lay 2 eggs, and the incubation period is approximately 30 days. Youngsters are able to walk within 1 day, grow rapidly and are nearly as large as their parents when the learn to fly at about 8 weeks of age.  The family will stay together for 9 to 20 months. Once hunted, Florida Sandhill cranes are now protected by the State as a  "Species of Special Concern"; the greatest cause of unnatural mortality for cranes in Florida is being hit by cars. Sandhill cranes occasionally rub their feathers with dirt, and/or iron laden water which may make them appear more brown than gray.   Greg Braun caught this responsible sandhill parent leading its fledgling along the pedestrian crosswalk at a Publix parking lot near his home. Extraordinary Sandhill Crane Slideshow by Dr. Robert Grover in the Suntree area of Florida south of Titusville . Get A Sign! If you see cranes habitually exposing themselves to traffic hazards like this "accident waiting to happen"- call AoMC and request a sign! The Sandhill crane awareness and crossing sign installation project has been developed by Audubon of Martin County, with support and donations from our members and friends.   Our thanks to MCDOT for installing signs where AoMC ascertains there is an urgency to protect a particular locality!! To receive copies of pamphlets to share with your family, HOA or group, call the AoMC Office at (772) 288-2637 or Email us. Roseate Spoonbills Audubon's Tavernier Research Station is continuing its amazing research on Florida Bays seminal species the Roseate Spoonbill (Ajaia ajaja). Like the canary in a coal mine, Roseate Spoonbills are letting us know that there is something drastically wrong with our environment, and continued runaway development will not only ruin our remaining natural areas but our lifestyles as well. However, this pink canary is still healthy enough to recover and the hope is that Everglades restoration efforts will reverse the downward trend. For this reason, spoonbills have been widely accepted as a key indicator species by which the health of Florida Bay and the greater Everglades landscape will be gauged. Dr. Jerry Lorenz and staff at Audubon's Tavernier Science Center, have begun a banding program to monitor the progress of spoonbills nesting throughout Florida. IF YOU SEE A BANDED ROSEATE SPOONBILL Click here for the Florida Bay & Everglades Science Spoonbill Sighting Form. Learn what to do if you've found dead or injured birds or other wildlife. To report wildlife law violations, call FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at (888) 404-3922 [888 404-FWCC] . The number is toll-free and open 24 hours, seven days a week. Callers may remain anonymous, and may be eligible for a reward if their information leads to an arrest.