BLUE JAYS
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BLUE JAYS

bgrace · 16 · 7953
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bgrace

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on: November 18, 2008, 11:44:47 AM
Can someone tell me if I am seeing things? This morning I am sure I seen a Blue Jay. I have not seen one for several years, since West Nile virus became prevalent. Also isn't a bit late in the year for them to be still here? I live in the Eglinton and Avenue Rd. area of Toronto.

Thank You,
Grace
 :)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by bgrace »

Bird Brain

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Reply #1 on: November 18, 2008, 12:31:49 PM
Hi Grace.

I see lots of Blue Jays here in Mississauga every year - including a few recently.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Bird Brain »
Jo-Anne :)

"If what you see by the eye doesn't please you, then close your eyes and see from the heart".

Kin Lau

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Reply #2 on: November 18, 2008, 12:40:53 PM
Lots of Blue Jays around right now, but they do breed in the Toronto area.

During that Sep/Oct, we were getting a thousand a day passing thru on migration days out in Whitby.

BTW, they _love_ peanuts.... preferably in the shell.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Kin Lau »

Bird Brain

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Reply #3 on: November 18, 2008, 03:08:52 PM
Quote from: "Kin Lau"
Lots of Blue Jays around right now, but they do breed in the Toronto area.

Biting tongue hard!   :P   (a bad baseball joke)

Do they drink beer?    :wink:    Sorry, couldn't resist!  

Quote
During that Sep/Oct, we were getting a thousand a day passing thru on migration days out in Whitby.

BTW, they _love_ peanuts.... preferably in the shell.


Re: peanuts ... I discovered this awhile back while feeding squirrels.  2 Blue Jays had some MAJOR mid-air combat right in front of me over a shelled peanut!   :shock:  One finally flew away and the other enjoyed his "prize".
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Bird Brain »
Jo-Anne :)

"If what you see by the eye doesn't please you, then close your eyes and see from the heart".

Kin Lau

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Reply #4 on: November 18, 2008, 03:43:53 PM
Quote from: "Bird Brain"
Quote from: "Kin Lau"
Lots of Blue Jays around right now, but they do breed in the Toronto area.

Biting tongue hard!   :P   (a bad baseball joke)

Do they drink beer?    :wink:    Sorry, couldn't resist!  


With all the beer joints on "Blue Jay Way" just down from Rogers Center... I would say yes.  That might go along with the breeding part   :lol:
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Kin Lau »

Greg Schneider

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Reply #5 on: November 18, 2008, 06:28:11 PM
Blue jays can be funny in what they do for peanuts. I have the four neighbourhood blue jays eating peanuts off my windowsill. Over time they've grown used to me and don't mind me sitting just on the other side of the glass.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Greg Schneider »

Dr. John

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Reply #6 on: November 21, 2008, 02:00:01 PM
Blue jays are regular visitors to our backyard every morning for peanuts in the shell. Several are tame enough to come within a few feet of us and will even fly down to our BBQ and call to get our attention (the BBQ is where we leave the peanuts). We love them.

-John
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Dr. John »

Craig McL

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Reply #7 on: November 21, 2008, 03:05:12 PM
I feed a Blue jay from my hand last week down at Cranbery march in Whitby !! :D

way cool ... and yes we have them coming for peanuts ever day also


Craig
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Craig McL »
Excuse my spelling and Grammar, I am Dyslexic thank you.

Bird Brain

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Reply #8 on: November 21, 2008, 04:31:13 PM
Saw 2 Blue Jays yesterday morning - sun was shining and the bright blue colour looked so beautiful against the white snow!   :D

(Same can be said for the male Cardinals with the bright red!)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Bird Brain »
Jo-Anne :)

"If what you see by the eye doesn't please you, then close your eyes and see from the heart".

Greg Schneider

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Reply #9 on: November 21, 2008, 05:02:32 PM
Quote from: "Dr. John"
Blue jays are regular visitors to our backyard every morning for peanuts in the shell. Several are tame enough to come within a few feet of us and will even fly down to our BBQ and call to get our attention (the BBQ is where we leave the peanuts). We love them.

-John


Yes! Mine will do that too, sometimes even early enough to wake me (outside my window)  :)
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Greg Schneider »

Dr. John

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Reply #10 on: November 21, 2008, 06:39:38 PM
Quote from: "Craig McL"
I feed a Blue jay from my hand last week down at Cranbery march in Whitby !! :D

way cool ... and yes we have them coming for peanuts ever day also


Craig


That's cool! Never got one to quite hand feed. They will let me stand within feet of them with my hand outstretched but I have to put the peanut down for them to take it.

-John
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Dr. John »

Kin Lau

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Reply #11 on: November 21, 2008, 07:21:44 PM
Quote from: "Dr. John"
Quote from: "Craig McL"
I feed a Blue jay from my hand last week down at Cranbery march in Whitby !! :D

way cool ... and yes we have them coming for peanuts ever day also


Craig

That's cool! Never got one to quite hand feed. They will let me stand within feet of them with my hand outstretched but I have to put the peanut down for them to take it.

-John


Here's a link to my gallery of Blue Jays taking peanuts right out of my hand (shots by my wife) - all at Cranberry Marsh.
http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Blue-Jays
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Kin Lau »

Howieh

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Reply #12 on: November 21, 2008, 07:29:31 PM
Very interesting; I thought the Edward Gardens BJ's were quite tame but I've never had one actually come to my hand. Of course, anytime I hold out a peanut there's a nuthatch ready to pounce so the BJ's never really have a chance! Do any of them stay around all winter? There were several in Ed Gdns during Oct but I haven't seen any for about 3 weeks.

Very nice shots btw. What else did you see at Cranberry Marsh?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Howieh »

Bird Brain

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Reply #13 on: November 21, 2008, 08:10:02 PM
Quote from: "Howieh"
Of course, anytime I hold out a peanut there's a nuthatch ready to pounce


Thanks.  This brings back a lot of happy memories of visiting Dufferin Islands in Niagara Falls!

 :D
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Bird Brain »
Jo-Anne :)

"If what you see by the eye doesn't please you, then close your eyes and see from the heart".

Axeman

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Reply #14 on: November 22, 2008, 02:28:49 PM
I've always found them to be very cautious...like their cousins the crows...and bullies at the feeder...I* have read that they prefer softwood forests...

Its funny, growing up in the city I used to love seeing them...now living in the country, they're my birdfeeding banes...
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Axeman »

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