Connect with Nature!
Connect with Nature!
Many people who feed birds do not like the jays because of their large size, loud voices, and aggressive nature. But if you take a little time to get to know these birds, you will learn to appreciate their beauty, their intelligence, and the important rolls they play in nature.
By John Rakestraw
Many people who feed birds do not like the jays because of their large size, loud voices, and aggressive nature. But if you take a little time to get to know these birds, you will learn to appreciate their beauty, their intelligence, and the important rolls they play in nature.
Six species of jays are found in Oregon, but only two are likely to be seen in your yard. A Western Scrub Jay is instantly recognized by its bright blue wings and tail; brownish back; white underparts; and blue breast band. Scrub Jays are found in open brushy areas, oak forests, and urban yards. A Stellar’s Jay is dark blue, with a blackish head, breast and back. The large crest on the bird’s head is distinctive. Stellar’s Jays prefer habitats with large conifers.
Many people refer to these birds as “blue jays.” But the Blue Jay is actually an eastern species, rarely seen west of the Rocky Mountains. Only a few Blues Jays are reported in Oregon each year, usually in winter.
Jays will eat small animals, baby birds, and eggs, but most of their diet consists of seeds and nuts. If you offer whole peanuts to jays, you will often see the birds pick up a nut, put it down, and try another. The birds are testing the weight of each nut, trying to find the heaviest one, the one with the greatest food value. Food is often carried off and buried for later use. Several species of trees, especially oaks, are dependent on the hoarding behavior of jays to disperse and plant their seeds.
A jay’s large size and aggressive behavior will sometimes frighten smaller birds away from your bird feeder. But smaller birds benefit from having jays around. If a predator, such as an owl, hawk, or neighborhood cat appears, jays will sound the alarm and mob the predator, alerting other birds to the danger.
If you want to feed jays without them monopolizing your bird feeder, try putting out a few whole peanuts at about the same time each day. The jays will quickly learn to come by at that time, will carry the peanuts away, and then will look for food elsewhere.