The Daily Bucket is a place where we post and exchange our observations about what is happening in the natural world in our neighborhood. Each note about the bugs, buds, and birds around us is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the patterns of nature that are quietly unwinding around us. |
One evening this week as we sat down to dinner, Melanie remarked about seeing two Blue Jays rise simultaneously from the yard below the window at my back and rise up to perch in the trees. By the time I turned around, they were just sitting and soon flew off. We have had more Blue Jays in the back yard this fall than usual. They are nicely appointed in their uniforms as they patrol the back.
Blue Jays are common year round residents in the eastern 2/3 of the US. They like forest edge habitats. They have a favorite food of acorns, and are often found near oaks, in forests, woodlots, towns, cities, parks. Several interesting facts about them are here at
All About Birds. Three of them I liked are...
• The pigment in Blue Jay feathers is melanin, which is brown. The blue color is caused by scattering light through modified cells on the surface of the feather barbs.
• The black bridle across the face, nape, and throat varies extensively and may help Blue Jays recognize one another.
• The oldest known wild, banded Blue Jay lived to be at least 17 years 6 months old.
More below the squiggle...
After a few minutes of our meal, I turned around again to see if the jays were still there. As I looked out the window, one flew down and landed in the grass. It had a peanut in its bill. This pictures illustrates the look.
Julie Gidwitz
It took a minute or so to look around and poke into the grass. After a couple of tries, it succeeded in pushing the peanut deep enough into the grass. Then, it picked up a leaf and dropped it onto the spot. It repeated that with two more leaves.
During that hiding process, two Tufted Titmice sat nearby watching closely. As soon as the jay flew away, they were down on the grass looking for the nut. It was an obvious effort on their part. Melanie saw them, too. We both felt they were determined to get that peanut. Sadly for them, they couldn't find it and flew away.
A squirrel came by a few minutes later. It seemed to stop and check the air often appearing to smell something. It took only a few seconds for the squirrel to locate the peanut. It sat for a while as if boasting to the Blue Jays about how cool it was to have found their hidden treasure. It scurried up the nearby tree and enjoyed the snack.
Glyn Edmunds
How about you? Any little drama going on in your backyard this week? Are you one who got pounded by Hurricane Sandy? Tell us about your adventures.