Blue Jays and White, Too

This morning the blue jays called outside my window to tell me that a squirrel was pillaging the feeder.  It made me think of this post from last winter when the jays chose to not let me sleep-in.  I like the pictures, especially the last one which isn't even mine. I've decided to repost it since most of my readers didn't see it.  I think It had 4 people that originally saw the post.

Anyway, here it is . . .

A good morning to sleep in. Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. With dawn came blue jays with scratchy cries announcing their presence.

The feeders must be a bit low or perhaps they didn't like this morning's offering, preferring their first course to be peanuts. It is hard to ignore a blue jay.

"Hey! What're you looking at?" Seems to be what this guy, above, is thinking.

Lucky for blue jays that they are so nice to look at.  Is it like people where some of the prettiest ones rely on their looks and don't work on developing a sweet disposition?  I don't know, but I think they are mostly for show.  They aren't as tough as they act. Blue jays are actually shy at times.  They are among the first birds to leave the feeder if suspected danger looms near. 

In my yard the jays are late in coming to the feeder.  I feed several weeks before they bother. I think they might be taking advantage of the natural food while they can - saving the sunflower seeds for when times get tough.  I know that they can take tough times.  I've seen them with the other birds fighting off bitter cold to fill their craw with seeds.  Look at this bird below.  You can see its feathers blowing as it is buffeted by the wind.

Blue jays seem to be good parents.  In the spring they become silent as they fly back and forth getting food for their young.  I can't tell the male from the female.  It probably has to do with size, but I don't really know.  The juveniles seem to also be smaller. 
These two below might be arguing, or maybe they've seen the adds on television encouraging family conversation around the dinner table.

While other birds will eat one seed at a time, the bluejay is one who will fill up his craw with as many as he can fit in. I've watched a bird drop seeds down his throat until he appears to have a goiter then fly off to the safety of the woods.

Like their raspy call, the clearly delineated blue and white feathers are hard to ignore, no matter what the season.  They particularly stand out against the snow though this fellow below will definitely blend in.

Photo by Patty T.

Several times this white-feathered jay appeared on my friend, Patty's porch railing a couple winters ago. (2009).  She took the photo through her screen door while the bird apparantly posed, politely waiting until she had the shot.
(reposted from January 2010 entry)