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

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Saturday, 8:07 am
crisp, sunny morning

Birds:
mwbw
rrmo
unbanded--left leg especially swollen
unbanded juvenile
plbmp
wwmlb
mlbrg
unbanded with leg mites, especially swollen right back toe

Finally returning to my observations. I'm in the habit of feeding the birds in the afternoon now, the morning comes so quickly on a back-to-school schedule, and my resident pair aren't here yet. Arriving first are mwbw, rrmo and one unbanded bird--clearing the peanuts out, not taking time to crack nuts and eat. Mwbw gives the male cheep cheep cheep call, though it doesn't seem that anyone is around to listen but his mate. She spends much more time shopping for nuts than she did in July. She appears more confident. Rather than perching skittishly on a limb, and swooping in quickly for a peanut, she selects first one, then another, until she finds just the right peanut.

The pair is joined by plbmp and Shopper (mwbw), mlbrg, and some unbanded birds with leg mites. As usual I'm mystified trying to distinguish whether or not mlbrg has a partner.

At 9:00, there is still no sign of the resident pair.