Blue Jays at the Banquet
Nov 20, 2014 17:55:37 #
When the Blue Jays soar in with their raucous "JAY! JAY!", the little songbirds scatter. Jays are not so nice, but they sure are pretty! The males and females look alike; therefore, I call them all 'he'. :-)
Jays don't actually husk and eat all the sunflower seeds they grab; instead, they gulp them into their throat and upper esophagus in an area called a 'gular pouch'. They can get 2-3 acorns into that pouch, hold one in their beaks, and another at the tip of the bill!
Six Jays with radio transmitters each cached 3,000-5,000 acorns one autumn, imagine that.
(25 photos)
Jays don't actually husk and eat all the sunflower seeds they grab; instead, they gulp them into their throat and upper esophagus in an area called a 'gular pouch'. They can get 2-3 acorns into that pouch, hold one in their beaks, and another at the tip of the bill!
Six Jays with radio transmitters each cached 3,000-5,000 acorns one autumn, imagine that.
(25 photos)
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#3 These two must be mates; they work in harmony, fly in together, and leave together.
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#4
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#5
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#6 During peaceful foraging or feeding the young, the crest is kept lowered.
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#7
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#8 This one raked up a pile of seeds with feet and bill, searching for more. See the seed flying?
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#9 Every now and then, he thought he saw movement at the window -- I was doing my best to keep hidden behind a curtain, but it kept fluttering in the breeze.
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#10 "Anything there?"
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#11 "Whoaaa! What startled *her*, I wonder?!"
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#12 Oh! -- it was this aggressive newcomer!
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#13 Gulp!
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#14
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#15
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#16 Another tried to land -- the more aggressive Jay chases him off.
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#17 But now a different one lands -- evidently his mate. They, like the first couple, eat in harmony.
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#18
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#19 Can you tell his pouch has seeds in it?
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#20
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#21
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#22
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#23 Propped up against the wind...
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#24
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#25
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Nov 20, 2014 18:12:41 #
Hi Sarah! Very nice shots and I learned some thing about Jays. I didn't know they could pack away seeds. No wonder my feeders are always empty.:):) Oh, a little Sun and blue skies would have made them better!:):):)
Erv
Erv
pianist38 wrote:
When the Blue Jays soar in with their raucous &quo... (show quote)
Nov 20, 2014 18:18:02 #
Great set Sarah! Enjoyed them all!
I love the jays and we feed them roasted peanuts. They actually shake them first to see if they're full and they also hide the nuts for later!
:D
I love the jays and we feed them roasted peanuts. They actually shake them first to see if they're full and they also hide the nuts for later!
:D
Nov 20, 2014 18:34:42 #
Erv wrote:
Hi Sarah! Very nice shots and I learned some thing about Jays. I didn't know they could pack away seeds. No wonder my feeders are always empty.:):) Oh, a little Sun and blue skies would have made them better!:):):)
Erv
Erv
Thank you, Erv! Yeah, those Jays can empty a big feeder in nothing flat, especially when they tell their friends and relatives about the smorgasbord. :-D
It was a bit dark that day, though there was just enough filtered sun to make a light in the birds' eyes.
I've added a few more shots; take a look if you like. :)
Nov 20, 2014 18:37:09 #
angela k wrote:
Great set Sarah! Enjoyed them all!
I love the jays and we feed them roasted peanuts. They actually shake them first to see if they're full and they also hide the nuts for later!
:D
I love the jays and we feed them roasted peanuts. They actually shake them first to see if they're full and they also hide the nuts for later!
:D
Thank you, Angela! Those Jays can tell if there are bugs in an acorn, too! -- they leave those behind. We have sometimes fed our Jays slightly stale peanuts. They get into quite the fusses with the squirrels!
Nov 20, 2014 19:57:14 #
Wonderful set. Many thanks for the lesson on bluejays. I learned something new today.
We had 2 in our yard yesterday. They are not all that common in our neck of the woods. Unfortunately, one of our hawks got hold of one of the jays this afternoon and flew off with it. We got there too late to scare off the hawk. Oh well, that is life in the wild..
We had 2 in our yard yesterday. They are not all that common in our neck of the woods. Unfortunately, one of our hawks got hold of one of the jays this afternoon and flew off with it. We got there too late to scare off the hawk. Oh well, that is life in the wild..
Nov 20, 2014 19:58:24 #
Nov 20, 2014 20:26:20 #
pianist38 wrote:
When the Blue Jays soar in with their raucous &quo... (show quote)
the close-up is the best one...beautiful shot!! :-D
Nov 20, 2014 20:39:13 #
Nov 21, 2014 00:16:26 #
A very nice group...very nice detail! My favorites are #15, #22, and #24'
Bob
Bob
Nov 21, 2014 00:43:15 #
MadMikeOne wrote:
Wonderful set. Many thanks for the lesson on bluejays. I learned something new today.
We had 2 in our yard yesterday. They are not all that common in our neck of the woods. Unfortunately, one of our hawks got hold of one of the jays this afternoon and flew off with it. We got there too late to scare off the hawk. Oh well, that is life in the wild..
We had 2 in our yard yesterday. They are not all that common in our neck of the woods. Unfortunately, one of our hawks got hold of one of the jays this afternoon and flew off with it. We got there too late to scare off the hawk. Oh well, that is life in the wild..
Thank you, and you're welcome, Mike! :)
Aarrgghh, yes, 'life in the wild'. :? I guess 'what goes around comes around,' eh?
Nov 21, 2014 02:50:59 #
Really lovely and in-depth set Sarah, nice work,
Geoff
Geoff
pianist38 wrote:
When the Blue Jays soar in with their raucous &quo... (show quote)
Nov 21, 2014 02:53:21 #
Nov 21, 2014 02:53:42 #
merrytexan wrote:
the close-up is the best one...beautiful shot!! :-D
Thanks, merry! :)
Nov 21, 2014 02:54:12 #
Thank you so much, Dave, Bob, and Geoff. :)
It's fun having blue jays around; they have so many different songs, calls, and whistles, you'd think they were related to mocking birds! Sometimes they sound like a creaky door... sometimes they make the softest little 'Toodle-toodle-toodle,' like one of those apple baby toys that tip this way and that, making a little melody. Now and then I hear a noise I've never heard before, and only know it's the blue jay because I see his throat and crest move every time he makes the noise. Sometimes his beak doesn't open at all, when he utters some funny little sound!
It's fun having blue jays around; they have so many different songs, calls, and whistles, you'd think they were related to mocking birds! Sometimes they sound like a creaky door... sometimes they make the softest little 'Toodle-toodle-toodle,' like one of those apple baby toys that tip this way and that, making a little melody. Now and then I hear a noise I've never heard before, and only know it's the blue jay because I see his throat and crest move every time he makes the noise. Sometimes his beak doesn't open at all, when he utters some funny little sound!
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