Got a Steller's Jay trying to build a nest on my gutter downspout.

[JBoy]

He/she is making quite a racket with their "hedgeclipper" chirping sound. So far he's managed to balance a couple twigs across a bend in the downspout, where it comes in toward the side of the house.

As an engineer, I gotta tell you bird - it looks like a tough platform to build a nest on. Otherwise, it's a great location, covered by the roof, sheltered from wind, with a view of any approaching predators.

Good luck, bird.

[Demoiselle]

1. What a beautiful bird!

I hope he/she succeeds there or somewhere nearby, so you can watch the fun and the babies. That blue is gorgeous.

[Gormy Cuss]

2. I'd love to have Stellar Jays in the yard rather than all these Scrub Jays.

Stellars aren't that common in this part of the bay area. I need to go to Marin to see them.

[trackfan]

3. If you make friends with the scrub jays and feed them peanuts

they will eventually sing a sweet song for you, as varied as that of a mockingbird, but in a barely audible whisper.

[Gormy Cuss]

5. I don't mind the scrub jays, just wish that I had a Stellar or two.

One year there was a female scrub jay who took a bath every day in the birdbath. Cleanest jay in the 'hood.

[marzipanni]

4. I like the scrub jays, but a little less this spring

I watched starling parents feed their babies in a hole 17' up in our black walnut tree, but they were fighting off the jays every morning.
For the last few mornings, no activity. :(

[nolabear]

6. I live in the city, and recently noticed a pair of sparrows chasing a crow.

They were clearly defending a nest. Then I realized that the "sparrows" WERE crows, and that the bigger bird was a bald eagle, probably scouting for crow's eggs just as the crows would have scouted for sparrows'. It sure can get interesting around here.

Meanwhile, Phoebe continues to raise those two great big (relatively speaking) hummingbird babies!

www.phoebeallens.com

[Arkansas Granny]

7. I recently watched a pair of mockingbirds chase a crow out of the neighborhood.

It's amazing to watch those birds take on one who is so many times bigger than they are. I'm really impressed with the way they make cats clear out. They are really gutsy birds.