BLUEJAYS IN YOUR GARDEN

             BLUEJAYS IN YOUR GARDEN               

Winter bird feeding - Peanuts  

Bluejays are native North American forest dwellers, common in our area. They are a familiar and noisy presence around many North American bird feeders.  

If you want to bedazzle friends and family, little is easier then feeding and attracting Bluejays to your garden, seemingly on command.

Once Bluejays have become accustomed to your feedings, they will become a
frequent visitor to  your garden.

Attracting Bluejays is as easy as putting out a cup of *unsalted peanuts every day with some gray striped sunflower seeds. These beautiful creatures will quickly become a dependable and frequent visitors to your garden. If you put peanuts out close to the same time every day you can count on these highly adaptable and intelligent birds to show up within minutes of their regular feeding time. It is truly amazing.  

Why some Bluejays do not migrate is still a mystery, but those that stay add dramatic
color to the winter garden.

If you want to put  out more later in the afternoon there always seems to a 'watch bird' ready to give a call to the rest of the flock.

These beautiful blue crested birds with black and gray wings are easily recognizable . Their bird call is a loud "Jay! Jay!" sound. This is only one of a wide variety  sounds the bird employs—including excellent imitations of several hawk calls. When Bluejays are in your area you will definitely hear them.

Bluejays are known to call for home owners to come out and feed them.

Bluejays are sometimes known to eat eggs or nestling's of other birds making many people hate them.  It is this practice that has tarnished their reputation, but in fact, they are largely vegetarian birds. Most of their diet is composed of acorns, nuts, and seeds.

Most northern Bluejays head south for the winter and join large flocks of up to 250 birds although some do not migrate. The birds that stay add dramatic color and excitement to the winter landscape. Bluejay migration is still considered a mystery to scientist.

Bluejays stay in familty groups throughout their lifetimes.

Bluejays have a special throat pouch that can hold extra seeds and acorns which they bury until later. 

This is why the Bluejays are credited with replanting our woodland forest after the last ice age.

*Don't put out too many peanuts at one time. You will only be feeding the squirrels.

Enjoy your garden all year,                                                                             

James