The sun has just come up as a team of wildlife biologists gather among the palmettos and scrub oak at Wingate Creek State Park in Myakka City for their monthly scrub-jay count.
Shelagh Lynch, a researcher in avian ecology at Archbold Biological Station in Central Florida, passes out lists to the group.
“So, I’m gonna hand out your census sheet. I think you all know the drill,” she said. “If you see them, cross them off. If you don’t see them, box them and then I will come and mop them up Thursday if they’re missed.”…