Sightings: Steller's Jays (Cyanocitta stelleri): Molting birds sighted and Red/Red|Metal/Orange appears

THE ORIGIN

June 28, 2007

Several years ago, I noticed a banded Steller's Jay sneaking kibble from our cat's food dish. Having no experience with bird studies, I wondered how and why that particular bird had been captured, and by whom. At that time, (before peanuts) jays were surprise visitors appearing on glorious, sunny days for brief encounters, stealing bits of food, then calling loudly from high branches of redwood trees.

Subsequently, I learned from my friend, Jeff Jacobsen, about Pia and Dr. Jeff Black's study of the "social system and ecological relationships that drive the distribution and dynamics of the local jay population" (Wildlife Department, Humboldt State University--see link below). Pia placed a feeder/trap at eye level outside my family room window where I could see the birds coming and going each day. I looked forward to watching their dazzling-blue plumage, jaunty crests, and trickster manners.

Each of us watching feeders have stories to tell about the relationships, habits, and unique characteristics of individual birds that frequent our places. I hope this blog will allow us to share our observations and images, as well as provide an opportunity to share our delight in these curious, smart, and at times, raucous birds. c.arnold

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Molting birds sighted and Red/Red|Metal/Orange appears

07:39-09:18

White sky in the east, blue in the west, the morning is still and quiet except for the distant sound of a jay calling. I struggle to find letters in our alphabet that approximate the sound of that call, “kwaa, kwaa, kwaa, kwaa, KWA!” Not right, but maybe enough for me to recall later that Mr. Go knew peanuts were out. And it’s true; this morning, he’s the first on the scene, followed by a group of three chickadees. Could they be a mother and two chicks? They are flitty—lack confidence, and dart to and fro, never lingering like they did in the winter when large groups of chickadees, junkos, and fox sparrows assembled, taking turns pecking in piles of seed. Their breast feathers look pale, but they move more quickly than I can focus my binoculars, or my camera. Now, my eyes feel as clumsy as my ears did a moment ago, instead of working to translate sound, I'm working to translate sight.

This morning, in addition to peanuts far back in the feeder, I’ve placed four piles of peanuts on the deck and benches. Mb/rg hops deep in the trap, at ease taking time to shop. This bird has tufts of feathers sticking out today I didn’t notice yesterday. Mw/bb is next, as usual, confident to choose the pile closest to me. Unbanded shopper arrives, picks up and down, then moves one peanut to a new pile and finally selects. Mw/blw swoops, looking scruffier today than yesterday—tail feathers worn, tufts sticking out all over. I’m going to try to get his portrait today.

Shopper successfully chases unbanded shoulder-tuft in an imitation act of Mr. Go. I’d label him and his partner, bp/mp, second-in-command at this feeder. Mw/bb chases unbanded shoulder tuft as well. Two unbanded juveniles perch on top of the feeder, bill to bill, mouths opening and closing, in a dance of balanced synchronicity. Mr. Go perches above, supervising. Too bad I missed that picture.

Banded juvenile appears and mw/rg flies in and out from the west, leaving with one peanut, no loitering for him. Mbl/ow comes and goes; resident female appears; bp/mp lands with a rattle, and more unbanded birds fly in and out than I can keep track of.

A new bird appears since my note-taking began: red/red | metal/orange. Another juvenile from last year, she (I can’t explain why she, any more than I can explain why unbanded shoulder-tuft and mw/rg are hes--a most unscientific approach) is a mess—a quintessential molter.

I wish Jeff J. had his recording devices set up here today—conditions are ideal to capture a variety of sounds, calls, conversations among birds—there is more activity than I can keep up with. Must be a record day for number of birds sighted at this feeder.

Total number of birds: 14+