Mark Martin and Steve Thiessen started the morning of October 14th by conducting a search for Nelson’s Sparrows in the wetland restorations south of the Jungemann barn. No Nelson’s Sparrows were found; however, 39 species and 3,197 individuals were found on the eBird count.
The highlight was counting 173 Blue Jays. Steve was excited to point out a large flock of 110 that had just left the spruce windbreak south of the barn and were flying south. Shortly after that another seven, 10 and 45 Blue Jays were also seen heading south. Steve also spotted the 45 Blue Jays high overhead heading south. When we returned to the Kampen residence we heard one more calling around the yard.
The 173 jays are the most Blue Jays found in Columbia County and reported on eBird. The previous record for Goose Pond was when we found 12 Blue Jays on October 8, 2020. The Columbia County high count of 64 was found by Al and Gail Shea, and Quentin Yoerger on January 3, 2004 around the Portage Power Plant count area while on the Poynette Christmas Bird Count.
We are aware that Blue Jays migrate and are counted at raptor banding stations including Cedar Grove Ornithological Station where over 4,000 were reported on one day 10 days ago.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology Birds of the World Blue Jay feature contains a wealth of information. This is the only New World jay that migrates north and south, and large flocks are observed flying over many hawkwatch spots, along shorelines, and at other migration overlooks. Yet their migration is very poorly understood. Some individuals remain year-round throughout their entire range, and at least some individuals depart during spring throughout their entire range except peninsular Florida. Migrating flocks can include adults and young birds, and recent analyses of movements of banded jays indicate that there is no age difference between jays that migrate and jays that remain resident. The proportion of jays that migrate is probably less than 20 percent.
Blue Jay perched on a tangle of branches (via Pixabay).
Margaret Hickey color banded and monitored 2,373 Blue Jays from 1953 until 1976 at her bird-feeders in Madison. She found that the annual survival for young was 45% and 53% for adults. Forty-three Blue Jays lived to be at least seven years old and the oldest Blue Jay was a 14-year old male.
She found that their population increased in Madison during the study. However, it is reported by Cornell Lab of Ornithology that Blue Jay populations decreased by about 28% between 1966 and 2015, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Partners in Flight estimates a global breeding population of 13 million, with 87% living in the U.S. and 13% living in Canada.
Blue Jays are found in all kinds of forests but especially near oak trees; they’re more abundant near forest edges than in deep forest. They’re common in urban and suburban areas, especially where oaks or bird feeders are found. Blue Jays glean insects and take nuts and seeds in trees, shrubs, and on the ground; they also eat grains. Acorns, nuts, fruits, and grains made up a large part of their diet. Blue Jays prefer tray feeders or hopper feeders on a post rather than hanging feeders, and they prefer peanuts, sunflower seeds, and suet. Planting oak trees will make acorns available for jays of the future. Blue Jays often take drinks from birdbaths. Find out more about what this bird likes to eat and what feeder is best by using the Project FeederWatch Common Feeder Birds bird list.
They store food in caches to eat later. Blue Jays carry food in their throat and upper esophagus—an area often called a “gular pouch.” They may store 2-3 acorns in the pouch, another one in their mouth, and one more in the tip of the bill. In this way they can carry off 5 acorns at a time to store for later feeding. Six birds with radio transmitters each cached 3,000-5,000 acorns one autumn. Their fondness for acorns and their accuracy in selecting and burying acorns that have not been infested with weevils are credited with spreading oak trees after the last glacial period.
At Goose Pond a have a small group of bur oaks growing in the Ankenbrandt Prairie that appear to be about the same age. The nearest bur oaks are found one mile away on the hill west of Goose Pond. Could it be that that group of oaks was from acorns cached by Blue Jays?
Bur oaks stand above the grasses in Ankenbrandt Prairie (photo by Mark and Susan Foote-Martin).
Blue Jay flights usually begin about an hour after sunrise and cease by noon; occasionally to resume later in the afternoon. Sue replaced Steve on the bird count at noon but by then the Blue Jay migration had passed for the day. Altitude during migration from treetop level to about 1,000 feet, and typically is about 600 feet. Flight speed during migration is about 21 miles per hour.
Other interesting facts are that Blue Jays are known for their intelligence and complex social systems, and save tight family bonds. They often mate for life, remaining with their social mate throughout the year. Blue Jays are also excellent mimics. In the wild, they often mimic Red-shouldered and Red-tailed hawks, and sometimes other species.
Thanks to Steve Thiessen for participating in the bird count.
Written by Mark and Susan Foote-Martin, resident managers, Goose Pond Sanctuary
Cover image by Monica Hall. A Blue Jay peers into the bright sun from its tree perch.
