This, however, is not the case because the Florida scrub jay is highly territorial. Disruption of habitat quickly leads to upset reproduct ion, rejection and isolation. This stems from the fact that the Florida scrub jay mates for life. A breeding pair establishes a permanent territory of about 25 acres, which they protect from other Florida scrub jay families. The hatchlings stay with the primary family for a year or so, helping to feed the next brood and standing watch for predators and trespassers.
Families stay together in the same territory for many years.
This strict territoriality makes it hard for the Florida scrub jay to adapt to another scrub after their established homes have been compromised. So, as you might guess, relocating them won't work. The last recorded po pulation count of Florida scrub jays is just a little over 2,000, mostly located in the Kennedy Space Center but also in some scattered scrubs all over central and southern Florida. Hopefully, while now labeled as threatened and protected by the United St ates Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, the jays will have a fighting chance at survival in their designated preserves and sanctuaries. The Florida scrub is one of the most endangered ecosystems in all of North America.