A friend sent me this charming story….enjoy~

A few Jays are around today, they are among my favorite birds.  Some information about Brother Blue….

Description

• Large songbird.
• Crest on head.
• Upperparts various shades of blue.

• Size: 25-30 cm (10-12 in)
• Wingspan: 34-43 cm (13-17 in)
• Weight: 70-100 g (2.47-3.53 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes alike.

Sound

Very vocal; make a large variety of calls. Most frequent call is a harsh “jeer.” Also clear whistled notes and gurgling sounds.

»listen to songs of this species

Conservation Status

Breeding Bird Survey data show a slight but significant decline in Blue Jay numbers across the United States, with most of the decline in the East. Some have implicated it in the decline of some Neotropical migrant species because it is a nest predator and prefers forest edges, but little direct evidence has been found.

Other Names

Geai bleu (French)

Cool Facts

• Although the migration of Blue Jays is an obvious phenomenon, with thousands moving past some points along the coast, much about it remains a mystery. Some jays are present throughout the winter in all parts of the range. Which jays move and which stay put? Although young jays may be more likely to migrate than adults, many adults do migrate. Some individual jays may migrate south in one year, stay north the next winter, and then migrate south again the next year. Why do they migrate when they do?
• Many people dislike the Blue Jay because it is known to eat the eggs and nestlings of other birds. However, in an extensive study of Blue Jay feeding habits, only 1% of jays had evidence of eggs or birds in their stomachs. Most of the diet was composed of insects and nuts.
• The Blue Jay frequently mimics the calls of hawks, especially the Red-shouldered Hawk. It has been suggested that these calls provide information to other jays that a hawk is around, or that they are used to deceive other species into believing a hawk is present.
• Tool use in birds is rare. Although no tool use has been reported for wild Blue Jays, captive jays used strips of newspaper to rake in food pellets from outside of their cages.

Cabin Fever Seed Swap
When:  Saturday, Feb 28, 2009
Where:  Green Fields Market meeting room, Greenfield, MA (map)
The Second Annual “Cabin Fever” Seed Swap! Come to the upstairs meeting room at Green Fields Market for a rousing and rollicking seed swap, to be held from 1 to 4 o’clock pm Saturday Feb 28! Bring your seeds of all kinds, info and advice, and plenty of enthusiasm for seed saving and sharing! Experts, old pros, complete novices, and everyone in between are encouraged! No one will be turned away, even if you have no seeds to share! Seed swapping is Radical!!! For more information, contact Melinda, 774-2220 or melindamccreven@hotmail.com