Snowing and Blue Jay.

[BlazenGem]

It has started to snow very hard in Vancouver. Its pretty, but it brings worries.

Theres this very handsome blue jay that has a nest on a tree near our house. It was there all summer, and I thought it went to somewhere warm when it got too cold. However, as I was walking outside today, I spotted it again picking on the ground.

What should I do? Do bluejays survive the winter? Should I catch it or drop food or anything?

It is very pretty.

mike

 

[Totally Judy]

Your Blue Jay might just need some assistance with food sources. Check out some web sites.

Most jays live year round in their chosen territory, except for the eastern blue jay which moves slightly northward during the breeding season.

Blue Jays are year-round residents across most of their range, but some northern birds do migrate south in the fall. Their migration pattern is not well understood.

The Blue Jay is handsome, but noisy, mischievous, and inquisitive adding life to a forest at any time of the year, especially in winter when most other birds have moved south. Its raucous Jay, Jaycalls and Too-wheedle, Too-wheedle whistles are heard all times of the year, but is often noisiest in the autumn. The Blue Jay is omnivorous with a diet of fruits, insects, grains, and acorns, but, unfortunately, sometimes the eggs and nestlings of other birds.

http://www.realindy.com/bluejays.htm

http://www.birdsforever.com/bluejay.html



Good luck!

TJ

 

[rebeltf]

It has started to snow very hard in Vancouver. Its pretty, but it brings worries.

Theres this very handsome blue jay that has a nest on a tree near our house. It was there all summer, and I thought it went to somewhere warm when it got too cold. However, as I was walking outside today, I spotted it again picking on the ground.

What should I do? Do bluejays survive the winter? Should I catch it or drop food or anything?

It is very pretty.

mike

It's almost Christmas ! Give your buddy a pad to call his/her own

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Jays are some of the toughest birds out there. Related to the crows. It doesn't hurt to set out food in rough weather. If you do, though, you'll attract them to your feeding station, and if you stop, you will have confused them as to where they go next for food. Allowing them to learn where the good stuff is in their own environment is generally best.

 

[Dr. Mudd]

The very first thing I'd do for Mr. Jaybird is get him some birdseed at the store and feed him well so he'll be strong enough to hopefully survive the winter weather. You can easily learn more about their feeding habits than I can tell you, but a good start I think would be a birdseed mixture with sunflower seeds in it. Also, you can take a pine cone and smear peanut butter into it, and then hang it up where the birds can peck at the peanut butter but the varmints can't get at it so easily. The jaybird is a handsome bird, so I wish him well. I can't imagine the depth of winter you and he must endure up there. Good luck helping him out. :thumbup:

 

[beau5278]

You don't need to worry much about Blue jays,we used to have a feeder out,when I lived in PA,and in the winter the Jays would come and chase all the other birds away and eat the food.They are a hardy bunch and from what I've seen not troubled by severe weather.

 

[bdws1975]

Jays are some of the toughest birds out there. Related to the crows. It doesn't hurt to set out food in rough weather. If you do, though, you'll attract them to your feeding station, and if you stop, you will have confused them as to where they go next for food. Allowing them to learn where the good stuff is in their own environment is generally best.

I agree. Unless he/she is injured, I would leave him/her alone. They are REALLY tough birds and the last thing you want to do is throw off his/her survival instinct.

Good luck and keep us updated.

brett

 

[Bufford]

I have stuff in the deep freeze that gets old dried out and forgotten. I take this old food and feed it to the birds during the tough part of winter. The birds go crazy over it.