Ancestors

Toot

Written by Campbell Jones on 2025-01-21 at 13:10

A blue jay just mimicked a red-shouldered hawk at me in an attempt to get me to leave the feeder I had just finished refilling. Too bad for you, blue jay, I am not a bird and I can SEE YOU. No fooling me!

I did the courteous thing and went inside anyway. It immediately flew down and grabbed the biggest nut it could see. Happy jay on a cold morning!

[#]serebitBackyard #birds

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Descendants

Written by peachfront on 2025-01-21 at 13:11

@serebit

i've had a Blue Jay pull this exact same trick on me

they seem to have a rather low opinion of our powers of observation!

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Written by Campbell Jones on 2025-01-21 at 13:17

@peachfront Agreed! Especially considering this blue jay has seen me watch it eat from the feeder many many times. I can't really fault it for trying though, I imagine the trick works pretty well on other birds and small mammals.

I just found this video of a jay using a crow call to try to scare off a mourning dove... to no effect, because it's a mourning dove: https://youtube.com/shorts/qgZpt2UcP_E

This is my first encounter with a blue jay that's been initiated by one of them. I hope the first of many!

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Written by peachfront on 2025-01-21 at 13:19

@serebit

that's hilarious...

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