The not-so-humble Blue Jay

[Solly Mack]

[question everything]

1. These are stunning!

Several weeks ago it appeared there was a horde of them, diving at the peanuts in the shell. And it is amazing how sometimes I see their crest and sometimes I don't.

We had a major rain a few weeks ago, and a poor jay was in our front porch, under a roof, busily drying itself. Its crest was split into many bundles of feathers.

[Solly Mack]

3. I love them. They can be bullies but they alert when hawks are around

and I think they're beautiful.

They pick out all the nuts, which bugs the chickadees and titmice.

They fight with the doves and the cardinals aren't fond of them either - but I enjoy watching them.

Thanks!

[2naSalit]

2. Nice!

I kind of miss them, haven't been in their habitat world for a long time. Many years ago, now it seems, there were a pair in my trees in Idaho, a micro-population since they aren't a western bird, per se. Grew up with them chattering all over the pace east of the Mississippi R. We have other kinds of jays in the Rockies, they don't behave much like these guys, though.

[Solly Mack]

4. Thanks. I keep hoping a western scrub jay will migrate this way. Only one state over.

The inca dove migrated this way, so maybe...just maybe.

[2naSalit]

5. They might if you have

pines with good nuts in them, maybe. I don't see as many Stellar Jays as I used to... Not in Idaho anymore but over at the edge of the Pallouse was where those eastern jays were in my trees, pretty low elevation area for Idaho, I couldn't live there because of it. I'm a high elevation dweller, 5500ft+!

[Solly Mack]

6. Maybe they will then. I'd love to get a few Stellar Jays. Haven't seen one in years.

[2naSalit]

7. I never see them

below 6K ft +, usually higher. We have Gray Jays and Clark's Nutcrackers as our most common jays here in GYE.

[Solly Mack]

8. So many birds, so little time.

I'm trying to talk my eejit into a bird road trip. He goes - "Just to find birds?" I said "Yes" and then he looked at me funny.

[Maraya1969]

9. Oh I love the birdatude!

[Solly Mack]

10. The Blue Jay is full of that!

One of the reasons I enjoy them so much.

I swear they mock me at times.

[shraby]

11. Another bird that mates for life. They also take care of their young for the whole summer.

[Solly Mack]

12. Explains the bird bath squabbles from them. :)

[cwydro]

13. We had a few in the spring, and I was thrilled.

Put out everything to attract them, but they left. ☹️

[Solly Mack]

15. I had to get them dried fruit and nuts to keep them coming back

They can be bird-seed snobs.

[Glimmer of Hope]

14. I have Scrub Jay that will take peanuts from my hand. It is so beautiful that I don't mind

the screeching.

[Solly Mack]

16. I love the noise they make. I hear it & go running to see how many have stopped by to eat.

That is so cool! Hummingbirds land on my husband all the time but for a bird to take something from your hand? Awesome!

[Glimmer of Hope]

17. Ha! I can always hear them coming. My scrub is so sweet and always looks so excited when I show it

a handful of peanuts.