Saturday Matinee – 1.3.2009
I mentioned some weeks ago about watching the crows at the snag where we put peanuts at Roundrock. Generally, they would swallow one peanut whole and then fly away with another, only to return later for more. (I assume they returned; it's impossible for me to distinguish individual crows.)
Back in suburbia, we repeated the performance among the bluejays on our back deck. Not as large as the crows (their corvid cousins), they tend not to swallow the peanuts each time (unless they find a small one among the bunch). Their antics are entertaining nonetheless.
The sqwauking you hear in the background is not a bluejay but Hugo, our pet cockatiel. Hugo has been with us for years and years, and is likely to remain with us about that much longer. You may also discern the sound of a can being knocked over. That's caused by Beatrix, but bunny that lives in our basement (and often in our kitchen).
I shot this video through two panes of none-too-clean glass, so excuse that if you will. I also shot the footage a bit earlier in the morning than would have been ideal. The sun wasn't quite up, which would have brought out the blue of the birds' plumage, but the bluejays are only morning visitors at our house. If the peanuts go out too late in the a.m., they Jays don't come and the squirrels do.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy this (since it is unlikely I'll be able to film the crows as "well").
Missouri calendar:
- Quadrantid meteor shower peaks.
January 3rd, 2009 at 7:53 am
I’m jealous; our blue jays disappeared along with our crows presumably because of the West Nile virus. Thankfully, they are slowly returning. This year our rabbits have gone missing.
January 3rd, 2009 at 9:24 am
Very pretty jays you have there. We see Scrub Jays and Stellar’s Jays, but not Blue Jays out west. Nice to see a video of them, pablo.
January 3rd, 2009 at 9:42 am
I bought my parents a bird feeder last year for Christmas and this year, I sure enjoyed watching the birds eating out of it. I’m going to have to get one for my house or start buying peanuts by the bushel.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:29 am
I put peanuts out too, and love watching the birds and squirrels gobble them up. I live at the edge of a suburban neighborhood, with my back fence bordering 2-acre homesites. So I get crows and blue jays – awesome. I was surprised to see that the crows seem to be the first to fly off if they catch a glimpse of me watching through the window. I also laugh when I see a blue jay fly off with 1 or 2 peanuts, then come back – still with the peanuts – just to drive off anyone else who wants one!
January 10th, 2009 at 8:34 pm
The Blue Jays are total peanut hogs. But then so are Tufted Titmice. I love how they pick up each peanut, testing them for weight, before flying off with one.