Dear Feather-Fanatics,
If a Blue Jay struts onto your Central New York feeder, you’re not just hosting a bird, you’re entertaining the John Gotti of the avian underworld. These loud, flashy showstoppers rock their bling like Frank Sinatra night at the Dark House Tavern. But don’t be fooled by their charm: these feathered mob bosses are sneaky, cunning, and ready to shake down any nest for a quick score. Let’s dive into why Blue Jays are the Gambino crime family of your backyard.
The Dastardly Don
Blue Jays don’t just chirp, they announce their presence with calls ranging from a cheerful “Yo, what’s up?” to a piercing “Trouble’s coming. Scatter!” When a hawk or owl crashes their turf, these birds go full-on Goodfellas, mobbing the intruder with dive-bombs and shrieks that’d make a guest at a backyard BBQ drop their burger. Their loudest trick? A pump-handle scream that sounds like a prankster in the woods or a Red-shouldered Hawk impersonation to scare off rivals. It’s like Gotti barking orders at his wise guys.
The Impish Impersonator
Like a mobster with a talent for aliases, Blue Jays mimic hawk calls to spook other birds away from feeders or warn fellow Jays of danger. Picture them grinning as sparrows flee, thinking a predator’s near, while the Jay swipes the suet. Pure ‘Teflon Don’ behavior, smooth and untouchable.
The Clever Criminal
Blue Jays are the masterminds of the bird world. In captivity, they’ve been caught crafting tools from newspaper scraps or sticks to snag food like a villain picking a lock. Finger Lakes farmers curse them for swooping down post-planting to nick seeds, pulling off heists with Gotti-level swagger.
The Shifty Scammer
One sly Blue Jay was spotted faking a peanut stash, hiding a pebble instead to throw off rivals. It’s the kind of decoy trick Gotti might’ve pulled to dodge the feds. Trickery at its best.
The Monogamist Mate
Unlike those Playboy hummingbirds, Blue Jays are more like that mobster couple who stay together, with a dash of drama. From mid-March to July, these birds pair up for life, and the male goes all out, feeding his mate like they’re on a honeymoon. If another Jay dares to invade their turf in late summer, you might catch the female throwing food back at him, saying, “Don’t even think about it!” It’s like a mob couple sharing a plate of ziti at Rosalie’s Cucina saying, “We’re in this together, now hand over the garlic bread!”
The Handy Homemaker
Each year, Blue Jays build a new nest, tucked high in evergreen trees, crafted from twigs, moss, and even stolen cloth or paper. They camouflage it to keep it low-key, and parents quietly clean out waste when needed. If a nest fails, the male brings new materials to the female for a do-over like buying a mansion for his mob-wife on Skaneateles Lake.
The Feathered Family Unit
Blue Jays are all about family. Both parents team up to build a nest, with the male serving the female while she incubates. Once the chicks hatch (17-21 days old), the whole gang leaves the nest together, like the Gotti clan rolling out of Ozone Park. Parents keep feeding and guarding their young with the fierceness of a Gambino hitman.
The Protective Parent
Mom and Dad Jay are on high alert. The female broods chicks for 8-12 days while both parents feed and defend them. Owls, cats, and hawks prey on adults, but babies face threats from snakes, squirrels, and even crows. It’s a tough world out there, but these Jays guard their kids like Gotti protected his inner circle.
The Mysterious Migrant
Most Blue Jays stick around Central New York all year, while the young ones jet south for winter, only to skip migration the next year. They’re like Gotti dodging a subpoena, unpredictable and always keeping you guessing. You’ll spot them from the eastern U.S. to the Northwest, slowly expanding their turf.
Will Blue Jays Crash Your Feeders?
Like the Gambino family muscling in, Blue Jays hit up any feeder, but they love the big ones loaded with peanuts, sunflower seeds, or suet. Stock your backyard like Potters Farm to Fork, and these Dapper Dons will be a regular customer.
Spill the Beak: Has a Blue Jay pulled a Gotti move at your feeder? Drop a comment and tell me about their backyard capers.
Check out the variety of Blue Jay Sounds and the creepy Squeaky Gate Call.
Sources:
https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/blue-jay
