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June 6, 2011

The Florida scrub-jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) is listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) as a threatened species due principally to habitat loss from development and agriculture and habitat degradation from fire exclusion. Translocation, the movement of a species from one location to another by people, is a potentially useful tool for scrub-jay conservation.  The objective of translocation is to promote the persistence of scrub-jay metapopulations by increasing the size of, and connectivity among, local populations. To accomplish this objective, translocations can involve reintroduction (returning scrub-jays to areas from which they have been extirpated) or augmentation (increasing the size of extant populations).  Translocation is only one tool for conserving scrub-jays; habitat management remains the most important conservation method for this species.

These guidelines represent recommendations of the USFWS and the FWC to help land managers, researchers, and others considering translocation of Florida scrub-jays for conservation purposes. Use or application of the following guidelines are not intended to satisfy Federal regulatory requirements and, therefore, do not substitute for minimization or mitigation measures associated with Federal permitting requirements. The methods and techniques in these guidelines represent what the USFWS and the FWC consider the minimum standards for scrub-jay translocation based on past and current translocation efforts.  Conservation practitioners may choose to exceed these standards (e.g., by using radio transmitters for more detailed monitoring).

The USFWS and the FWC support limited scrub-jay translocation efforts using the recommendations provided in these guidelines.  We believe adoption of these recommendations will reduce risks to source populations, increase translocation success, and target translocation activities where a conservation need has been demonstrated. Scrub-jay translocations are experimental in nature. Methodologies are not developed sufficiently for translocation to be considered a routine management tool for scrub-jays, and translocations are not appropriate in all situations.  The USFWS and the FWC will evaluate proposals on a case-by-case basis to determine if the potential conservation benefit outweighs the risks inherent in conducting a scrub-jay translocation. These guidelines will be amended as new information becomes available.

Florida scrub-jays are sedentary and highly territorial, have strong site fidelity, and rarely disperse long distances. In addition, scrub-jays are highly social and exhibit conspecific attraction.

Therefore, when scrub-jays disperse, they are less likely to settle in unoccupied patches of potential habitat. As a result, when scrub-jays are extirpated from patches of suitable habitat, successful recolonization may take many years, or may not occur at all.  Suitable habitat is generally defined as an oak-dominated scrub or scrubby flatwoods with low, open shrub structure, exposed sandy openings, and few trees.

Additionally, much of the remaining scrub-jay habitat is reduced in size, fragmented, and overgrown due to fire exclusion. Fragmentation increases isolation of scrub-jay populations and reduces the probability of immigration. As scrub-jay habitat is restored on conservation lands, immigration may not be sufficient to increase small remaining scrub-jay populations.  Without sufficient immigration, small populations will continue to be vulnerable to the adverse effects of stochastic events.

The long-term persistence of scrub-jays will require that some currently small populations increase in size and that some extirpated populations be restored. Because of the limitations described above, however, natural immigration alone may not be enough to augment small populations to self-sustaining population levels. In some cases, human-assisted dispersal (i.e., translocation) of scrub-jays may be necessary.

The translocation of scrub-jays has been conducted at three locations. Valuable information has been, and continues to be, gained from these efforts about appropriate methodologies and techniques that may increase translocation success.  As we learn more, these guidelines will be modified. The USFWS and the FWC believe adherence to these guidelines will help future efforts provide valuable information to refine translocation methodologies.

Recent analyses indicate there is a substantial amount of genetic variation among some scrub-jay metapopulations (Coulon et al. 2008). Conservation of genetic diversity provides the evolutionary potential necessary for species to adapt to changes in their environment over time and therefore is beneficial to the long-term survival of species. Genetic diversity can serve an important role at the metapopulation level as well as the species level by ensuring that long-isolated metapopulations remain uniquely adapted to local environmental conditions

There remains much debate about how genetic information should be used in the formulation of conservation or management practices. Given current data on scrub-jay genetic diversity, it seems prudent to maintain existing scrub-jay genetic heterogeneity to the maximum extent possible.  Translocations should not occur between genetic clusters (see Figure 1), except in extenuating circumstances to be determined by consultation with the USFWS and the FWC.

Ideally, the source of scrub-jays for translocation would come from very small, isolated populations with little chance of long-term persistence or from healthy and growing populations that would not likely be affected demographically by the loss of translocated birds. Previous efforts have translocated both entire family groups and non-breeding helpers ranging from yearlings to older birds. The conclusions from these previous case studies suggest: 1) moving helpers, especially young of the year, is likely to have the least impact on source populations; 2) the establishment rate of non-breeding helpers is relatively high when these individuals are used for re-introductions; 3) moving entire family groups is more likely to have an impact on source populations; 4) but moving entire family groups seems to be more successful than moving non-breeders when augmenting existing populations. Given these considerations, source populations should meet one or more of the following criteria:

1. Individual birds and/or family groups on private lands that are covered by Federal incidental take permits/authorizations where any legally required minimization and/or mitigation obligations have been fully met.

2. Individuals and/or family groups from healthy and growing populations on public or private conservation lands that meet the following criteria:

• a. Translocating non-breeding helpers: Candidate individuals are part of a population on managed land(s) with greater than 15 groups where the mean group size exceeds three birds/group. Mean group size is likely only to exceed three birds/group in healthy populations at carrying capacity because surplus birds remain in their natal territories as helpers. Mean group size is likely to be below three in declining populations or populations that are expanding into unoccupied habitat. These criteria are therefore self-limiting. Birds can be moved from these populations as long as mean group size exceeds three and the number of groups exceeds 15. However, no group may be reduced below three birds. If translocations begin to affect population size and mean group size of the source population, then translocations cease until mean group size once again exceeds three and the number of groups exceeds 15.
• b. Translocating entire family groups: Candidate family groups are part of a population on managed land(s) with greater than 15 groups where the mean group size exceeds three birds/group. No more than 10% of the family groups can be moved in any one year. To prevent negative impacts to source populations, this percentage may be adjusted by USFWS and the FWC as additional data or population models become available. We assume that if a population is healthy and at carrying capacity, surplus breeders will quickly fill vacant habitat following removal of translocated family groups. Additional translocations of family groups from the managed land(s) can continue only if and/or when the population recovers to its pre-translocation number of groups.

Translocations may involve the reintroduction of scrub-jays to previously occupied areas or the augmentation of existing populations to achieve the objective listed earlier in this document. The USFWS and the FWC will evaluate each potential recipient site based on the benefit to its larger metapopulation and/or genetic unit. A list of priority sites is not currently available. Characteristics of recipient sites will depend on circumstances specific to each metapopulation and/or genetic unit. Generally, we anticipate high conservation benefit from translocation proposals that conserve scrub-jays on well-managed sites that are part of a functioning metapopulation. Appropriate recipient sites or populations should meet the following minimum criteria:

1. The site has been reviewed and approved by the USFWS and the FWC as a priority recipient site and meets the following criteria:

• A. A public conservation property, or private property with a perpetual conservation easement, whose primary function is to preserve, protect, and perpetually manage biological resources and functions, and,
• B. Is included within a land management plan specifying spatially and temporally appropriate management actions to maintain scrub-jay habitat, and,
• C. If applicable, managers have identified and mitigated previous circumstances that led to scrub-jay population declines on the recipient site.

2. The site contains the necessary spatial extent of scrub-jay habitat, including:

• A. At least 500 acres of contiguous or nearly contiguous scrub and/or scrubby flatwoods on site, or,
• B. A complex of at least 500 acres of scrub and/or scrubby flatwoods, when taken in combination with other appropriately managed private or public conservation lands within 0.5 miles.

3. Habitat quality at the time of the translocation should include the following:

• A. For reintroductions: At the time of translocation, the site should have at least 250 acres of unoccupied scrub-jay habitat that has been managed within the last five years.  Of these 250+ acres, the site should have at least 50 acres of optimal scrub-jay habitat for each translocated potential breeding pair or family group. The remainder of the 250+ acres must be either optimal or have vegetation shorter than optimal height and due to reach optimal condition within two to three years.  For example, if the number of translocated potential breeding pairs equals four, then 200 of the 250+ acres must be in optimal condition and the rest can be shorter than optimal height.  If the number of translocated potential breeding pairs or family groups exceeds five groups, there must be an additional 50 acres of optimal habitat for each potential breeding pair. Optimal habitat contains xeric oaks with an average height from 4.0 to 5.5 feet high with less than one acre of any scrub-jay territory having vegetation averaging taller than 5.5 feet. Optimal habitat also contains less than one canopy tree per acre and has 10 to 50 percent bare sand openings or sparse herbaceous vegetation. The habitat should be as far away from a dense forest edge as possible, ideally having a 1,000-foot non-forested buffer.
• B. For population augmentation: At the time of translocation, the site should have at least 250 acres of scrub-jay habitat that is optimal or shorter than optimal height but due to reach optimal condition within two to three years.  Of these 250+ acres, at least 50 acres should be in optimal condition for each translocated potential breeding pair or family group; because resident scrub-jays may defend very large territories in areas below carrying capacity, the criteria that this habitat must be unoccupied is necessarily relaxed. The number of resident groups in the 250+ acres must be below carrying capacity (i.e., there should be less than 1 group per 25-40 acres prior to the translocation). Typically, population augmentation should occur in populations with less than 10 resident groups with the goal of reaching or exceeding 10 groups.

1. Appropriate Federal and, in some cases, local authorizations are necessary prior to initiating translocation activities and include, but are not necessarily limited to:

• A. Local government approval, if applicable.  For example, Brevard County has an ordinance that prohibits translocation of threatened or endangered species from private land to county-owned land without approval from the Board of County Commissioners.
• B. Federal research permit (http://www.fws.gov/forms/3-200-55.pdf.  This permit may not be necessary for agencies with a Section 6 Cooperative Agreement with USFWS).
• C. Federal bird banding permit (http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/resources/forms/permitinfo.cfm).
• D. Federal incidental take permit with confirmation of completed minimization and/or mitigation, if applicable.

Those planning a translocation should contact the USFWS and, in some cases, local authorities to ensure that appropriate permits and authorizations are in place.  Those planning a translocation also should coordinate with FWC’s Avian Taxa Coordinator.

2. Translocation of scrub-jays should occur from late-November through January, when resident scrub-jays tend to be less territorial. Exceptions may be made when donor populations are at risk of habitat loss due to imminent land alteration (urban development, agricultural conversion, etc.) that has been reviewed and where incidental take has been authorized by the USFWS.

3. Donor scrub-jays should be habituated to supplemental food and traps before scheduled capture. “Dummy” traps may need to be baited several times p