F
rom the sun-kissed beaches to the rolling prairies, and from bustling towns to vibrant cities, a rallying cry echoes across Florida: "The Florida scrub jay is our state bird!" But this enthusiastic declaration remains just out of reach. The Florida scrub jay, a unique species found nowhere else in the world, continues to wait patiently for its chance to shine, only to see its hopes dashed on the Senate floor year after year.

    These remarkable birds have been nurturing Florida's distinctive elfin oak forests for centuries, each adult carefully burying 6,500-8,000 acorns a year. Perched atop pine snags, they stand watch over their territory, steadfast sentinels against droughts, floods, and fires. The Florida scrub jay thrives in a land of extremes, where other birds dare not venture.

    With close-knit families and precise territorial boundaries, these brash and boisterous Floridians have lived atop ancient dune islands for millennia. Their ancestors arrived from the American West around 2 million years ago, along with nine other bird species – all but one went extinct, leaving only the burrowing owl and Florida scrub jay to survive in Florida.

    The Florida scrub jay's remarkable story is one of adaptation and evolution, as it became a habitat specialist, binding its fate to the land. However, human activities have taken a devastating toll on their habitat, with only 10% remaining and the species population dwindling to below 5%. The slow violence of environmental degradation has been unfolding for centuries, as Florida's natural lands are cleared and repurposed, leaving fewer homes for these remarkable birds.

    Climate change adds to their struggles, threatening to decouple seasonal food sources from their nesting season and causing heat stress that makes it difficult for them to forage. Some argue that an imperiled species shouldn't be our state bird, but the Florida scrub jay's unique story challenges us to envision a healthier future for both humans and wildlife.

    It's time to raise our voices and declare: "The Florida scrub jay is the real state bird!"