Sightings: Steller's Jays (Cyanocitta stelleri)

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

Wednesday, July 4, 2007

07:30

High fog, white sky, warm still

Birds Sighted In Order of Arrival:

1. mrgo
2. plbmp (rattles)
3. unbanded adult
4. banded juvenile
5. morlb (red right eye)
6. mwlblb
7. mlbrg
8. mlbob (rattles)
9. mwbw
10. mbow
11. pbmr (no tail bars?)
12. unbanded chases mwlblb
13. mlbbg?

Other birds sighted:

1. chestnut backed chickadee
2. varied thrush

Comments:

I’m spending a little time each day sitting on the deck with the jays eating peanuts. I notice which birds are willing to come close to me to get a peanut and which pause, roosted above, quiet, alert, waiting for me to move farther away. This is the time I will often hear soft chatty vocalizations. They are my very favorite—because of the variety of sounds and gentleness of tones. They are rich, expressive, and beg to be translated. Could they be subtle warnings that someone is near, or casual approaches to biding time until the coast is clear to feed without intruders? The temptation to anthropomorphize is irresistible and I am aware of a merging jaynesss with humanness-- for the moment, our commonalities more distinct than our differences.

Mwlblb is by far the tamest bird. He may hesitate slightly before approaching me, but then hops, boldly to take a peanut. This is always disconcerting for mrgo, who claims this feeder, but doesn’t have the courage to take charge when I am too near. Today, morlb (red eye) appears more culturally assimilated, taking time to select, eat a peanut now and then, perch, and survey, before caching; however, there are still times when he reverts and becomes unexpectedly skittish, dashing off. He too, is a very tame bird and does not shy away from me.