Where are the jays?

[Bill & Jaye]

We are new to this site so this may have already come up, but if so, can't see where.
Last year we had a few Blue jays and cardinals in our back yard.  But This past winter and to present, we have not seen any such birds.  I have asked a few other bird watchers and they report the same thing.  Either seeing very few or none.  Anyone have any thoughts / ideas as to why this is?  Are you seeing any less of these also?

Bill :)

[RKD]

Hadn't even thought of it until you mentioned it. We have jays frequenting our feeders especially in the fall and every few weeks in the winter they make an appearance. This year however we haven't had any since about November, not a one. Where have they gone and why haven't they returned? It's a mystery. Maybe someone else has better food then us.

[Napper]

Hey!

Read this winter finch report it includes Jays

http://www.ofo.ca/reportsandarticles/winterfinches.php

I noticed large groups of them migrating in November(in Toronto). They were present when we visited Tiny Township in January, lots of food for them there!

Napper:))

[Jimbo]

Last November, during the Raptor watch at Hawk Cliff (lake Erie) there were constant streams of Bluejays migrating. Conservative estimates were 500,000 per day.
For about four days in early November, there was never a moment when the sky was not filled with Jays.
Early in the morning, the puddles in the road to the cliff were mobbed with jays, "turning the road blue" waiting for a drink before taking off on the next leg of their journey.

Napper has it figured, the remaining, wintering over jays have the best pickings for food and cover for the winter.

Don't worry, some will return

Jim Dunn

[TomTelford]

FWIW  Our feeders here in Orono have had a regular 6-10 Jays through the winter which would be about normal...

Tom.

[Axeman]

We typically have 8 - 12 jays at the feeder -- we didn't notice a decrease.

Absent this winter was the American Tree Sparrow.

[Dr. John]

We definitely noticed fewer blue jays this winter at our downtown Toronto feeder, although we were still getting them intermittently. In recent weeks it has been steadier.

-John

[Leslie]

I've heard a blue jay or two in my back yard (most of which is "borrowed") most of the winter.  Neighbours to the west of me have evergreen trees, spruce, I think.  The park to the south has a pair of white oak trees, and I think some red oak as well.  Food and shelter.  One of my neighbours puts out table scraps from time to time, but no one has a proper bird feeder.

There's been a red-breasted nuthatch in the pussy willows the past couple of days.  I had one in the fall too, but not winter or summer, so I think they migrate through here (Toronto).  The one in the fall was climbing around on the brick wall.  Hah, obviously a country hick, can't tell the difference between a tree and a house.  (The alternative is too awful to contemplate.)

[Napper]

Hey  :!:


there be no Jays in Tiny. Song Sparrows are singing

Tiny Marsh  on Saturday Morning maybe,


was a beauty day up here.. wow 28 c

[RKD]

Alas the Jays have returned in all their glory. They were positively joyuful as they sat on their usual perch atop our trellis and called to me to throw them a handful of peanuts. I know from this they are the exact same birds 'cause they have me trained. Good to see them again!!

[Bird Brain]

I know from this they are the exact same birds 'cause they have me trained.

 :lol:  Thanks for the great laugh.  

Jo-Anne  

[Bill & Jaye]

Update on Jays

Not too long after I posted this to start the thread, a pair of Jays showed up.  But so far they are not real regular at the feeder.

Thanks to all.

Bill & Jaye  (pardon the pun on the name)