Environmental & Extension Services - Natural Resources

Scrub-Jay Review Package (pdf) - Territory Search - Review Procedure - USFWS Agreement (pdf)) - Habitat Conservation

HCP Frequently Asked Questions

How long will the HCP process take?

The goal is to a completed HCP submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners within 1 ½ - 2 yrs.

How much will the HCP cost home owners?

Cost to individual home owners is unknown at this time; it will depend on the funding mechanism the county decides on. The County has applied for a grant with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to do an economical analysis of the HCP to show what funding mechanisms are available and what the overall cost would be. The County will be informed of the grant award in spring 2010.

Why have public forums without being able to show a plan or give costs?

Charlotte County is conducting the public forums during the HCP development to keep public informed throughout the process, as well as to get input to address the needs of all the constituents.

Why is the current mitigation money going outside of Charlotte County?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service mitigation fund, from throughout Florida, is administered by The Nature Conservancy.  The strategy for the mitigation funds is to apply those funds to the population of jays that are most at risk; right now that is in Brevard County.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is currently working with Charlotte County and the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center, Inc on a Memorandum of Understanding to temporarily administer funding in Charlotte County while the HCP is being developed. This would allow all mitigation funds to stay in Charlotte County.

Is the Florida Scrub-jay actually an endemic (found only in Florida) species?

Yes, the species was separated genetically from the western jay about 15 years ago. It is genetically different with distinct breeding and social structures, such as cooperative breeding.

If Charlotte County is not able to preserve the Cape Haze jays, how will cooperation with Sarasota County work?

It will depend on if the Sarasota HCP is approved and the models show viability of that population. If so, the Charlotte County HCP will state that Sarasota’s HCP will preserve those birds through the reserve areas in Sarasota County.

The current goal of the HCP is to return the jay population to the 2002 level of 135 families. How was that number decided on?

That number may change. The final number of families will depend on statistical modeling that will demonstrate what is needed to preserve a long term viable population.

How are the survival, death and birth rates set for the reserve areas?

The survival, death and birth rates are set by utilizing data modeling from research done at the Archibald Biological Research Station for survivability of jays on native lands versus suburban lands.

Can the Florida Scrub-jay cross the Myakka and Peace rivers?

Water is typically considered a hard barrier. In Charlotte County jays do not cross the Myakka River; however they are able to cross the Peace River, on occasion. Jays are able to cross the Peace River for two reasons, one being that the Peace River is more narrow than the Myakka and also because there are small islands of vegetation throughout the river. Theses small vegetated areas give the jays somewhere to hide if they spot a predator while crossing the river, as opposed to a long expanse of open water.

What about all the conservation lands already in Florida?

Although there are conservation lands in Charlotte County, not all the lands contain the scrub habitat necessary for scrub jays to thrive. Part of the HCP will be to better manage the conservation lands in public ownership to maximize the carrying capacity for jays those lands.

If additional land acquisition is needed in a suburban area, how big would the parcels need to be?

This depends on a variety of factors. If there will only be one patch of habitat it would need to be fairly large, around 200-250 acres. If there will be multiple patches, one would need to be larger with an assemblage of other patches surrounding it, they could be smaller patched.

Would burning be safer near homes if conservation lands were burned more often?

Just as if scrub is not burned often enough, if scrub is burned too often it will not support jays. However combining mechanical reduction with prescribed burning will make burning at intervals needed to support healthy scrub near the urban interface safe.

Can other habitats be modified into scrub?

Scrub habitats have specific soils that support their vegetative structure, so most other habitats could not be converted to scrub.

Is it feasible to relocate the Florida Scrub-jay?

Relocation may be a possibility in the future. Relocating jays is still in the experimental phase and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not consider it a valid mitigation option at this time. More research is needed.

For more information
Charlotte County Environmental & Extension Services
25550 Harbor View Road, Unit 2, Port Charlotte, FL  33980
941.764.4360