Scrub Jay Information & Updates

3/8/06**UPDATE** Occupied Scrub-jay Habitat in the City of North Port Scrub-Jay Review Process Advising Citizens what to do if their property is in scrub-jay habitat The City of North Port has recently undergone a scrub-jay survey in order to identify occupied habitat. These areas represent suitable habitat for the Florida scrub-jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens), a State and Federal threatened species that is only found in Florida. The scrub-jay lives primarily in scrub habitat, which is one of the rarest habitats in Florida and under tremendous development pressures. In all areas, only lands that are occupied by the scrub-jay may need a Federal incidental take permit to clear lands or build. The City of North Port and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have provided a detailed survey of scrub-jay areas in North Port to identify where scrub-jays occur. After reviewing information provided on this web page, please refer to the North Port Scrub-Jay Excel document at the bottom of this page for a list of Parcel ID's that are indicated as occupied by scrub-jays whereby property owners must seek consultation upon submission of a building permit and download the attached Review Package to start the review process. In areas where no scrub-jays occur, a Federal permit would not be needed at this time. The Parcel ID list will be updated annually to reflect new scrub-jay sightings or a shift in current habitat. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will operate under the most current information available. A list of environmental consultants that perform scrub-jay surveys can be obtained from the provided Consultant Link to the left. Only properties listed on the PID excel sheet that are being developed at this time need to be reviewed. Review and approval of a Habitat Conservation Plan to obtain an Incidental Take Permit may take more than a year. You should plan your building process accordingly. Mitigation costs are based on the cost of purchasing additional lands for conservation. These costs can be met by on-site land conservation, purchase and dedication of lands for conservation, payment to an approved conservation fund, or purchase conservation credits from an approved conservation bank. The City of North Port and the Service are working with Sarasota County to include North Port in the County-wide Habitat Conservation Plan for scrub-jays to facilitate the sustainable development of lands within scrub-jay zones. This will expedite the incidental take permit process and provide a comprehensive plan for conservation of the scrub-jay. Updated Scrub Jay Excel Spread Sheet & Review Package If you have further questions please check the Service web site at verobeach.fws.gov and look for the Scrub-jay information link at the bottom of the page. Or contact the Service at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service South Florida Ecological Services Office 1339 20th Street Vero Beach, FL 32962 772-562-3909