Return of the Scrub Jay

For the past couple of weeks, streaks of blue have been diving into the trees under my bird feeder to search for dropped seed. First one, and now about four raucous scrub jays are conversing and mimicking – they have such an amazing vocabulary if you listen. My dove Lily b has had a special relationship with some blue jays in Maine and I note that he is continuing this trend here in Abiquiu moving to the window nearest to the jays to coo in response to some of their calls. Strangely, the jays definitely respond to these coos. How I wish I knew why this relationship exists between the two and what keeps the conversation so riveting that Lily b is still actively seeking out these birds out after 27 ( almost 28) years!
 
In Maine, all my raucous blue - jays disappear for the summer. The literature says they move into the forest but I live in a forest, or did, and they don’t stay in there! Every September they return in flocks of up to twenty birds to raid my feeders and this is what the scrub jays are doing here. They are also starting to converse in the Bosque.
 
Jays are members of the Corvid family and I have witnessed blue jays using tools – sticks, in particular, to move a large piece of fat to a place where they can get at it more easily.
 
This morning I was watching the scrub jays through binoculars. There was one youngster amongst the pack. My birdfeeder trips, shutting its doors when a squirrel or really large bird lands on it, and the jays fit into this latter category. I was so inspired by their behavior that I wrote this article!
 
 They aren’t satisfied with dropped seed and have figured out that if one trips the feeder and instantly jumps off some seed is scattered on the ground for the others to feast upon. The jays take turns tripping the feeder so everyone gets extra food.
 
They also use another more acrobatic technique. By hanging upside down on a nearby branch and stretching out their necks, the jays can reach the food with their beaks without actually touching the feeder! I watched one gobble down a host of seeds before ending his contortionist act. The youngster sat on a branch watching the others before dropping to the ground to feed. At some point I am sure that he will imitate his elders. Clever birds! I am impressed.
 
The Western Scrub –Jay’s range extends from Washington south to central Texas and Mexico. Not surprisingly the food-caching behavior of these intelligent birds has been the subject of several studies. These birds plan ahead for times when food isn't readily available. Scrub Jays bury excess seeds and nuts beneath leaves, grass or mulch; and will retrieve them when food sources in their environment are scarce.
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They may also hoard and bury brightly colored objects found in their environment like other Corvids.

According to research, their brain-to-body mass ratio rivals that of chimpanzees, whales and dolphins.

So much for the “bird brain” theory.

Jays like other birds and animals mourn the loss of mates and flock members. They will loudly screech near a dead jay for as long as 30 minutes and remain close to the body for a day or two (I have also witnessed this behavior when Lily b lost all three of his mates with one difference, unlike the jays Lily b mourned in terrible silence).

 Mule deer have been observed allowing scrub jays to hop over their bodies and heads as they search and feed on parasites like ticks. The deer appeared to facilitate the process by standing still and holding up their ears to provide easy access for the jay.

 Scrub-Jays usually forage in pairs, family groups, or very small flocks outside the breeding season. They forage on the ground and in trees, caching much of the food they find and retrieving it later.

These birds are also omnivorous, with a diet that varies by season and region. In summer, they eat many insects, spiders, and snails, and in winter, they shift to berries, acorns, and other seeds. They eat rodents, reptiles, amphibians, and the eggs and young of other bird species in addition to visiting birdfeeders and devouring hunks of fat during the cooler months.
Western Scrub-Jays are typically monogamous, and nest in shrubs or low trees. Both members of the pair help build the nest, which is a thick-walled cup made of grass, twigs, and moss, lined with soft rootlets and hair. The male brings food while the female incubates 3-6 eggs for 15-17 days. Both adults help feed the young, which leave the nest at 18-19 days. They typically raise one brood each year.

Curiously I couldn’t find any information on where scrub jays disappear to in the summer. Perhaps they are still around but (uncharacteristically) secretive while breeding/raising their families?

If you want entertainment just spend some time at the window watching the scrub –jays. I promise that you will not be disappointed!

Image (c) Keith Bowers

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