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

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

CORRECTION: In my previous notes I used the incorrect nomenclature for blue and black. I’m going to correct the mistake in the “List of Birds” section on the left; however, I cannot edit a posted blog. From now on, I will be using the correct nomenclature.
b = black (formerly bl = black)
lb = light blue (formerly b = blue)

07:15-08:30
High fog, warm, still

Birds Sighted In Order of Arrival:

1. mwlblb male
2. morlb male
3. mrgo male
4. banded juve
5. unbanded juve
6. mwrg male
7. rrmo molting, defined breast
8. unbanded with leg mites
9. lbpmp female
10. mlbob female
11. mpbw female
12. unbanded with burnt-orange bill feathers and swollen, pink elbows
13. unbanded shopper male

COMMENTS:

This morning, I noticed the males in the family came first to the feeder and were followed by the females. Morlb, the newest bird to the feeder, came to and from the east, doing his best to clear out peanuts quickly. No time spent shopping, he swooped in, grabbed one peanut, cached it beyond the eastern border of the driveway, then returned to repeat the procedure in a mad, flurry of greed. This bird has a history that includes visits to the Kokotat and Jeff Jacobsen feeders, along with his mate, mpbw, who appeared for the first time yesterday as well. He has burnished feathers around his right eye and above his bill (loral and supraloral region) that appear orangey-red, a color you might associate with age, or sun bleach. Jeff J. suspects age. The bird’s behavior is foreign; unlike those members of the more familiar group, who linger, choose seed sometimes, peanuts others; take time to crack a nut in a tree and eat it before gathering several, and flying off to cache. Is this reflective of a cultural difference, personality difference, or simply, newness to this place?

Rrwo is back today. Her disheveled appearance is even more distinct now—feathers are rumpled, crisscrossed, springing out from her body in an unruly arrangement that lacks all sense of order. Though small, she looks buxom, rounded breasts forming a gentle line of cleavage down her center. I wonder; is this a seasonal change, an adaptation to nesting that I haven’t noticed before; or a quality unique to this bird? I will watch to see if I notice this attribute in other females.

A new unbanded bird arrived today. He was accompanied by an unbanded juvenile and had the same burnt-orange feathers as morlb, except directly above the upper mandible. He was accompanied by an unbanded juvenile and chased by Mr. Go, who called, “chooka, chooka, chooka, chook.”