Tag Archives: Blue jays

Thursday – 9.21.2017

1;38 AM – This is a video from a few days ago – a Red-bellied Woodpecker dominating a couple of Blue Jays. Here it is again, with a soundtrack, an original score.

We try to keep the feeders filled up, but sometimes they can stay empty for half day or more. This Blue Jay is clearly not happy about it. I like the part where he snouts (or beaks) the chaff around, demonstrating the lack of the good stuff. At the end, I swear he understands that we’re seeing him on camera, and he’s sending us a clear message: “This is sloppy work, you backyard birders! It’s time for a fill-up!” Then turns his back on us.

There was a lot of traffic on the Squirrel Buster feeder today. We got video of these, in order of appearance: A big, bright Cardinal, Carolina Chickadee with unusual coloring, a Brown-headed Nuthatch, and a female Purple Finch (she’s brown striped, not purple). The Brown-headed Nuthatch is pretty rare in our yard.

Thursday – 9.14.2017

1:21 AM – I know it’s all natural, but I still hate to see the local feral cats get one of the birds. This video has a brief but graphic moment at the end when a Mourning Dove gets taken. There will be more pleasant videos to watch tomorrow.

WARNING – GRAPHIC VIOLENCE

Did that Blue Jay just try to steal a seed out of his buddy’s beak? It sure looks like it.

 

Tuesday – 9.12.2017

12:02 AM – A couple of Blue Jays, peacefully feeding together, get evicted from the feeder by a Red-bellied Woodpecker. I don’t blame them – I’d get out of the way too. The Red-belly doesn’t stay long, and the Jay returns, after taking a good look around.

We’ve got a cardinal, a purple finch, a bluebird and what looks like a couple of goldfinches in the background, all at the same time.

Friday – 9.8.2017

12:23 AM – A few days ago we posted a video about the backyard birds getting along in the feeders (most of the time). We’ll follow up with a clip of a Cardinal standing up to a dove – but not fighting back. The dove isn’t really going for the throat. It seems to be more of a series of warning pecks. The Cardinal show considerable restraint. At the end of the video, both got back to peaceful grazing.

I think the Mourning Dove  must be mellowing (this one, anway). Here’s a Blue Jay eating with a dove watching – and no fireworks.  Maybe they’ve figured out there’s plenty for everyone.

Thursday – 9.7.2017

2:57 AM – Another agitated Blue Jay. Sometimes they’re so hysterical. And loud.

And sometimes they seem to get along alright. Watch this small gang of Jays go for a pile of fresh seed. Then watch them get dispersed by one Mourning Dove. The Jays keep coming back – but the camera battery ran out of juice before the matter was settled. I suspect it never gets settled, this kind of thing just goes on all day.

 

Tuesday – 9.5.2017

12:22 AM – The birds in our yard spend all-day every-day eating from the same feeder, drinking from the same birdbath. We’ve seen plenty of videos of bird squabbling and ‘fighting’ for territory in the platform feeder. But a lot of the time, they seem to get along all right. Like this Cardinal and dove. Of course, when a Blue Jay shows up, it’s a different matter.

In the background is a Goldfinch getting a drink of water. We haven’t seen one for a while. In the foreground a Cardinal – looks like he’s finally getting his head feathers back.

Monday – 9.4.2017

12:47 AM – This encounter between a Cardinal and Blue Jay is intense. The Cardinal seems to be saying: “Hey! I’m molting! I’m not in the mood for this foolishness.”

The Cardinals seem to feed their young more than the other species – at least, in front of the cameras.

Saturday – 9.2.2017

2:58 AM – There’s usually only one, sometimes two doves in the feeder. Today we had at least four. Maybe the dove population is growing. We hope not – they already get more than their share of feed.

Make sure the volume is turned down before you watch this clip. The Blue Jays are fighting again.