The Scrub Jay
I think the Scrub Jay should be the state bird because it only lives in the state of Florida. The Mocking bird is in found in several other states. I think Florida should have its own special state bird. The Scrub Jay mainly lives in the scrub oaks of Florida. I also think that the Scrub Jay would be a much prettier bird than the Mocking bird as state bird. This is why I think the Scrub Jay should be the state bird of Florida.
Amanda
Illustration by Jeremy.
Illustration by Robert
Florida Scrub Jay Essay
The Florida Scrub Jay is a very important bird to this state because it is referred to as a disjunct race of Scrub Jay. The Scrub Jay lives in a small portions of land in the scrub regions near the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. The Scrub Jay's population has decined from 50% to 80% in recent years. The decline is due to damage and lose of its habitat . The remaining population of Scrub Jays could easily become extinct due to damage, and low population and habitat fragamentation.
Florida Scrub Jays are only found in Florida. A Florida Scrub Jay will occupy the same place for several years at a time. Sometimes the Scrub Jay will move its nest slightly from one year to the next. The population of a Scrub Jay is one of only three that comprise almost 80% of the entire species. The Florida Scrub Jay lives in the close cover of oaks in some driest areas of Florida. These dry areas are referred to as the scrub. The scrubs of Florida are one of the most endanged in North America.
The Scrub Jay would serve as a wonderful state bird because it is one of the few birds that only live in Florida. Florida does not have an offical state bird. The "unoffical " state bird is the Mockingbird, which lives almost everywhere in the country. The mocking bird is also the state bird for Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, and Arkansas.
These are the reasons why our school would like the Florida Scrub Jay as our state bird.
Nicole
Illustration by Robert