(see picture of this unique bird below):

contributed by ASE member Jane Wiewora who attended the 2014 Jay Watch training at Jonathan Dickenson Park:
On Saturday, May 31, several members of the Audubon Society of the Everglades attended a volunteer training session for the Florida Jay Watch citizen science program at Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Jay Watch is a volunteer program organized by Audubon Florida which conducts scientific surveys of the Florida Scrub-Jay population and habitat throughout the state.
The Florida Scrub- Jay is Florida’s only endemic bird (found nowhere else in the world).Our state’s population of Florida Scrub- Jay families has decreased ninety percent since the early 1800s. It has been declared a federally Threatened species since 1987. The population is continuing to decrease due to lack of suitable habitat, and to fire suppression which has allowed the birds’ necessary scrub oak habitat to become overgrown.
The Florida Scrub- Jays are territorial and live in family units consisting of the parents and up to six “helper” birds. They are omnivores, but in the fall and winter consume mostly acorns. The Florida Scrub-Jays build their nests in the short scrub oaks about a meter above the ground. From two to five eggs are laid. After hatching, the nestlings are fed animal protein provided by the parents and the helper birds. The nestlings fledge at eighteen days, and can be distinguished from adults by their grayish brown heads and backs. They begin molting into their adult plumage in late summer.
The Jay Watch survey is conducted throughout the state from June 15 to July 15. During this time period, observers can differentiate adults from juveniles by their plumage. Groups of surveyors are assigned several geographic points at which to collect data. At each stop, the local Florida Scrub- Jay call is played. Observers then watch for birds, and record the number seen and their behaviors and movement according to the study protocol. If an observed bird is banded, the locations and colors of the bands are recorded. Each point is visited on three different days during the June 15- July 15 time frame. On the first visit to each of these locales, a specifically designed vegetation survey is also conducted.
Beth Burger will be coordinating the Palm Beach County Jay Watchers into teams to survey locations in our county. She has done this previously in 2012 and 2013.

Florida Scrub-Jay at Jupiter Ridge Natural Area by Susan McKemy