Blue Jays

[Arrowhead1951]

We have what I call Scrub Jays all of the time, the Stellar Jays come in late winter and leave just when the days get hot. I call them Hammer Heads because of their headdress, I could grab one and use it to pull nails out. Yes, they are bullies, but the Acorn Wood Peckers we have attack them and drive them off the feeders. I am really hard of hearing so the noise they make only wakes the Boss, she and I both give them a pass because we watched a pair of the Scrub Jays attack and eat a gopher that poked it's head up just at the wrong time.

Good luck with the Jays, stay healthy and safe

Arrowhead1951

 

[Arrowhead1951]

Double post ...again???

 

[Longfellow]

Can't say I like them. They are useful for eating insects that would harm my garden plants. They're very useful for warning other birds whenever there is a hawk or owl around. That said, I have 3-4 of them that eat regularly at my back yard bird feeder and occasionally at my front porch feeder.

 

[Saltlake58]

We fed families of scrub jays (western bluejays) for nearly 30 years till we moved. Got them to come almost to my feet. They are noisy but I like them.

 

[LostinTejas]

A holes, but protected. 

 

[Blackpaw]

Well, I see it this way, in North America blue jays are a native species. If they do what they evolved to do to survive and are not severally impacting the local population of who they compete against, then they are off limits.

To me the same applies for wolves, coyotes, fox and etc.

However, non-native invasive species like starlings and english sparrows are a complete free game.

 

[JohnnyPDX]

A pair of them hang out, silently, in my backyard when I target shoot. They are nice company and I feed them peanuts in the shell.

ON THE OTHER HAND....
My wife watched one of my Blue Jay shooting buddies tear the head off a sparrow baby sticking its head out of the birdhouse in our front yard waiting for a feeding from Mom or dad. We fought over it because I wasn't sensitive to her feeling bad about witnessing that.

I bought more peanuts in the shell.

 

[JohnnyPDX]

We have what I call Scrub Jays all of the time, the Stellar Jays come in late winter and leave just when the days get hot. I call them Hammer Heads because of their headdress, I could grab one and use it to pull nails out. Yes, they are bullies, but the Acorn Wood Peckers we have attack them and drive them off the feeders. I am really hard of hearing so the noise they make only wakes the Boss, she and I both give them a pass because we watched a pair of the Scrub Jays attack and eat a gopher that poked it's head up just at the wrong time.

Good luck with the Jays, stay healthy and safe

Arrowhead1951

Sounds like they 'earn their keep' eating gophers!!!!!!!!!!

 

[qball]

Well, I see it this way, in North America blue jays are a native species. If they do what they evolved to do to survive and are not severally impacting the local population of who they compete against, then they are off limits.

To me the same applies for wolves, coyotes, fox and etc.

However, non-native invasive species like starlings and english sparrows are a complete free game.

^^^^^ 100% agree! As much as they annoy me at times I don’t shoot them but my fingers get real itchy when invaders show up. 

 

[Blackpaw]

At least it was a sparrow. We know deer eat bird chicks so a blue jay doing the same thing shouldn’t be shocking. Thumbs up. 

 

[Fullmag]

They Suck the big one. I have a new $90,000.00 silicon roof on my building and those B@$+@%*$ pick at it in nice patterns for what reason I do not know, but I have to go up and slather the spots with new silicon to re-seal them. Pests I say.

Patrick

I’d fault the manufacturers for that they are constantly lying about the capabilities of their products. Since they introduced Pex piping it seems roof rats love the flavor of it.

I can’t tell you how many flooded houses I’ve seen.