The Noisy Ones
text and photos : Norma A. Hubbard (February 2018)
I cannot remember who said it or when I first heard the expression, “Blue Jays dine alone,” however I do know that I finally understood what it meant when I moved here. Each morning I feed my birds; it is a routine that the birds seem to know as they appear to wait for me each morning. However, if I sleep in even a little bit, those brazen Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) make so much noise that I have to get up to feed them! Once the birdseed is out, especially the peanuts, the Blue Jays take over the feeders and there are very few other birds in sight – this is particularly true in winter when the numbers of Jays increases around my house.
Blue Jays are one of the larger birds at my feeders, especially in comparison to the finches, sparrows and chickadees; the Blue Jays look huge. They are 25 to 30 cm (9.8 to 11.8 in.) in length with a wingspan of 34 to 43 cm (13.4 to 16.9 in.), yet like many birds, they don’t weigh very much, only 70 to 100 g (2.5 to 3.5 oz). Unlike many bird species in which the males are often more colourful, the male and female jays look alike. Interesting to note, we see the beautiful blue due to light reflecting off modified cells on the feathers; Blue Jays feathers contain melanin, which is actually brown! The striking black markings around the face and chest is the bridle. While the bridles might all look the same to us, if you take a closer look, it actually varies between birds. It is thought that this might help birds to recognize each other.
As I mentioned, Blue Jays are noisy, but they are also quite smart. I have noticed that when they are dive-bombing the feeders, they mimic the sound of a hawk, causing other birds to scatter. It is also believed that this call can be used to warn other jays that an actual hawk is in the area. In captivity, Blue Jays have learned to mimic human voices. Jays use other calls, one that I think of as the ‘squeaky clothes line’ call, which is quite annoying, yet it probably means something to them! If you sit and listen to jays, they make little chirps and gurgling noises, which is them talking to one another. In addition, jays use body language to communicate. An upright body stance is to show aggression, while lowering their bodies is used among family members.
Each spring Blue Jays may have one brood with 2 to 7 eggs with an incubation of about 18 days. Both the male and female build the nests. Blue Jays usually mate for life and the males are good providers. While the female incubates the eggs, the male brings her food and continues to bring food for her and the babies once they hatch. If a nestling leaves or falls out the nest, the parents may not feed it until it returns to the nest or is at least close to the nest. Fledglings leave the nest within 21 days and are demanding children as they squawk for food. It varies, but after leaving the nest, both parents feed their offspring for one to two months.
There are stories that Jays attack and eat other bird’s babies, however there is little evidence that is a common habit. Most of their diet consists of insects and nuts. When not dining at our bird feeders, Blue Jays eat plenty of bugs and wild fruits and seeds. Jays love acorns and are found in areas with oak trees. According to All About Birds, “Their fondness for acorns is credited with helping spread oak trees after the last glacial period.” Blue Jays are seldom found living deep in the woods, but more on the edge of forests and have adapted well to ‘city’ living. The oldest known wild Blue Jay was almost 27 years old and died in fishing gear, so they might actually live beyond that age. Although population numbers are down for Blue Jays, on the Continental Concern Score they are listed as Least Concern.
There are days when I am annoyed that the Blue Jays have chased away my shy Cardinals, yet I try to remind myself that while I am used to seeing them, they are impressive birds – as these bold blue birds often impress visitors to my house, especially on days when almost 20 of them descend on my feeders. Moreover, I would miss them, even their noisy calls, so I will continue to put out peanuts knowing that my Blue Jays love them. I will also continue to enjoy their chatter and think about how their bright blue colour brightens the landscape in winter!
Source: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds [Online]