Pretty exciting news. I discovered a scrub-jay nest and when one of the parents landed near it I could hear the little chicks making chirping noises. They were very low volume which is good in that it does not draw a lot of attention from predators. The bush they picked was perfect. I don’t know… Continue reading New Batch of Chicks
Author: Brad
That Time of Year for The Scrub Jay
I see these birds almost every day of the week so I can tell when their behavior changes. Today was that day for the Jays. I encountered a Jay out of his usual territory. Not only was he out his usual area, he was much more aggressive chasing away other birds, including Blue Jays and… Continue reading That Time of Year for The Scrub Jay
A Territorial Battle Today
I went for my walk through the woods today to get exercise and to visit my little blue bird friends. The area I walk used to have three separate scrub-jay groups but now it has just two. Two family groups combined into one and may have lost a member or two. Today I witnessed something… Continue reading A Territorial Battle Today
Donate the Help Our Little Blue Friends
I’ve often said to people close to me that the Florida Scrub Jay is a gauge of sorts when it comes to the human race. I believe if we cannot save this species of bird then perhaps we don’t deserve to live on this planet. It is my belief that we have had plenty of… Continue reading Donate the Help Our Little Blue Friends
Florida Scrub Jay Audible Sounds
I have found in my time being with the Florida Scrub Jay that it has three levels of sound. By that I mean it has three volumes of sound. Those sound levels consist of: Super soft little chirps – They make these tiny sounds when they are in close proximity to one another. It is… Continue reading Florida Scrub Jay Audible Sounds
Why Are FL Scrub Jays So Tame Around Humans?
First, it should be noted that all FL Scrub-Jays are not so tame. The further you get away from human population centers the less tame they are. I have been way back in the brush where the scrub jay is very cautious and absolutely will not come close to you. They more-or-less ignore you. For… Continue reading Why Are FL Scrub Jays So Tame Around Humans?
Scrub-Jays in a Panic
Sometimes you enter into the scrub-jay territory and you can instantly hear that something is going on. You hear a few alarm calls off in the distance. Then you hear the territorial “pish pish” alarm type call they make. Something has got them spooked. In fact, the way I found out that there were bobcats… Continue reading Scrub-Jays in a Panic
Recent Notes from the Trails
When I am studying Florida scrub jays in the field I will sometimes bring my phone with me to snap a quick photo or even to take field notes. This post is a gathering of the notes I’ve taken over the last several months. I do not in any way think these behaviors are exclusive… Continue reading Recent Notes from the Trails
FL Scrub-Jay’s Interaction with Other Bird Species
There is typically a hierarchy which exists among animal species. For instance, the larger more aggressive breed of dog will typically end up ruling wild packs. I am no zoologist so I do not pretend to be an expert on this subject. But I can tell you what I have examined about the scrub-jay of… Continue reading FL Scrub-Jay’s Interaction with Other Bird Species
Amazing Food Management
The Florida Scrub Jay has survived for millions of years by being aware of predators, by controlling its small territory and by being resourceful. Like most birds, the scrub-jay will stash food for later. But the complexity of how it stashes and manages this food is astounding. Scrub-jays will have thousands of locations where they… Continue reading Amazing Food Management