Blue Jay Attacks Red Shouldered Hawk

Video: Blue Jay Attacks Red Shouldered Hawk

Close-up look at how a Blue Jay intimidates and then gives chase to a very large Red Shouldered Hawk - the top of the Backyard food chain. The Blue Jays are "Backyard Superheroes" flaring every feather on their body to look big and with their beak held wide open to appear more dangerous they are a sight to behold in slow motion as they attack the hawk - and then give chase! Blue Jays are nesting now and particularly vigilant - they also perform a valuable warning service for all the other Backyard critters - especially the squirrels!

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Video: Blue Jay Attacks Red Shouldered Hawk

Blue Jay Bird Bath

Video: Blue Jay Bird Bath

Blue Jay takes a refreshing dip in the bird bath. 

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Video: Blue Jay Bird Bath

Trained Blue Jay Family - Ride Of The Valkyries

Video: Trained Blue Jay Family - Ride Of The Valkyries

Ten Blue Jays in a family or "attack squadron" in the Backyard are being trained to feed in formation each morning from the Oak Tree to a peanut landing deck. These videos taken over two days show their progress so far - not exactly military flight precision, but they are getting the hang of it. Typically the first four or five hit their marks with the precision of Navy pilots making carrier landings and then things tend to break into chaos a bit - and a few impressive interlopers even join in!

The "Ride of the Valkyries" (German: Walkürenritt or Ritt der Walküren) is the popular term for the beginning of act 3 of Die Walküre, the second of the four operas by Richard Wagner that constitute Der Ring des Nibelungen that is perfect for this video. As a separate piece, the "Ride" is often heard in a purely instrumental version, which may be as short as three minutes. Together with the "Bridal Chorus" from Lohengrin, the Ride of the Valkyries is one of Wagner's best-known pieces. Courtesy of the YouTube audio library.

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Video: Trained Blue Jay Family - Ride Of The Valkyries

Baby Red Squirrel Afraid of Blue Jay

Video: Baby Red Squirrel Scared by Blue Jay

Baby Red Squirrel's first foray out into the world and it smartly runs for cover when a big Blue Jay wants some of the suet. A full grown Red Squirrel with over-sized ego would fight off a Blue Jay for food, but this little babies survival instinct is correct. You don't realize how small it is until you see the size of the Blue Jay in comparison. So far I have only seen one red squirrel fledgling this fall, this may be the eldest with more to leave the nest soon.

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Video: Baby Red Squirrel Scared by Blue Jay

Bald Headed Blue Jay

Video:  Bald Headed Blue Jay

Blue Jay with the bald head look of late summer molting - but still a very handsome fellow and loud and proud as most Jays are as you will hear! This is when you can clearly see the birds ears which are at the bottom back of the skull. Although this is a known seasonal phenomena the fact that sometimes only one or a few of a dozen Blue Jays displays this characteristic and it is usually only the head is interesting. Last year's bald Blue Jay can be seen here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWleg6OVgIg

More information at:

http://feederwatch.org/learn/unusual-birds/

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Video:  Bald Headed Blue Jay

Blue Jay Alarm Call Alerts Backyard Squirrels and Birds

Video:  Blue Jay Alarm Call Alerts Backyard Squirrels and Birds

Blue Jays sound the alarm call and a Gray Squirrel eating mangoes in the Backyard immediately heads for safety without hesitation! After a brief wait the coast is clear and he returns to his mango. Blue Jays in the Backyard work hard for their peanuts as they are largely responsible for the lack of predation of squirrels and backyard birds and their young by feral cats, snakes and Red Shouldered Hawks. This important role is often unrecognized in Backyard ecology. Although there are no doubt many false alarms most animals prefer to be safe than dinner! See Blue Jay taking on a Red Shoulder Hawk!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gmVOMEhMj8

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Video:  Blue Jay Alarm Call Alerts Backyard Squirrels and Birds

The alarm call of the Blue Jay sends a Gray Squirrel running for shelter!

Video:  Blue Jay Alarm Call Alerts Backyard Squirrels and Birds

Blue Jay Imitating Red Shouldered Hawk Call

Video: Blue Jay Imitating Red Shouldered Hawk Call

Blue Jay perfectly mimics the call of a Red Shouldered Hawk. Red Shouldered Hawk calls are common in the Backyard, but they are rarely made by real Hawks. Most are fake hawk calls made by impersonating Blue Jays, especially my hand fed Buddy Blue Jay. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAFE1SkiGt0

Blue Jays have a special alarm call and head bob when they are trying to alert others and frighten away a Hawk and they also dive bomb them as shown in this clip. There is history between them! There are a number of theories as to why Blue Jays do this, but in my backyard its all about food dominance by just a few Big Jays high on the pecking order - they know exactly what they are doing. Sometimes my trained Blue Jays makes the Hawk call while waiting for a peanut as in this clip and it may be sort of a possessive/territorial call that the guy with the peanut is off limits. They also seem to enjoy getting the squirrels upset by doing this - they clearly have a few steps on the furry mammals. Late in the clip you will see a Mourning Dove relaxing and preening while Blue Jays make Hawk Calls in the forest - Hawks eat Doves in the backyard so this Dove in the open somehow knows not to be alarmed as Hawks do not make any sound when hunting.  Listen closely and you'll hear the squirrels making panicky alarm calls as the Jays have them upset. I have a sneaky suspicion my Blue Jays enjoy this. Hawks do not call when hunting, they call mainly to communicate to each other. 

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Video: Blue Jay Imitating Red Shouldered Hawk Call

Trained Gray Squirrel and Blue Jay Friends

Video: Trained Gray Squirrel and Blue Jay Friends

Wild Gray Squirrels and Blue Jays training to wait for me to open the door in the morning to be fed peanuts. First I trained the squirrels to wait and come 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgerljGPVBw  

but it didn't take long for the extremely intelligent and observant Blue Jays who I occasionally hand feed to adjust their busy schedules and gatecrash the squirrel feeding session. It can get a little hectic for about 10 minutes in the morning, but they are a fun bunch to jump start the day. The entire family of squirrels and Blue Jays join in and for the most part its orderly. This is a recording of a mornings activity. See Hand Feeding my Blue Jay Buddy at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAFE1SkiGt0

Be extremely careful if you attempt to hand feed squirrels they are farsighted and notice their eyes are on the side of their heads and they will accidentally bite - notice that I only hold the very end of a peanut and keep my fingers away to make it easy to grab. I would suggest never extending an open hand with food in it to a wild squirrel! I also do not recommend over-feeding squirrels - just give them a bit to supplement their diets and maintain some discipline so they wont become dependent.

Video: Trained Gray Squirrel and Blue Jay Friends

Blue Jay Eyes a Peanut

Blue Jay Eyes a Peanut

My Blue Jay friend about to enjoy a peanut!

Video: Hand feeding my Blue Jay Buddy!

Tufted Titmouse Teaches Blue Jay About Peanuts

Video: Tufted Titmouse Teaches Blue Jay About Peanuts

A Blue Jay in Smoky Mountains who has never seen peanuts looks quizzically at them and does not know what to do with them until the always savvy Tufted Titmouse shows it the way. A Florida Jay would have had all four peanuts to itself in short order, but in the high dense forest at 4000 feet I've noticed Blue Jays are rare and dare I say a bit "shy". They even make different calls than in Florida, sort of pensive lonely calls as in this video clip: Blue Jays unusual call

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8zHROkXQpU

Here in the deep dark forest the little birds rule the roost!

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Video: Tufted Titmouse Teaches Blue Jay About Peanuts

Blue Jay Cracks a Peanut

Video:  Blue Jay Cracks a Peanut

Blue Jay Cracks a Peanut. Close up view shows the Jay's technique and just how powerful their beak strikes can be. Hand feeding Blue Jays peanuts can be seen at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAFE1SkiGt0

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Video:  Blue Jay Cracks a Peanut

Bald-Headed Blue Jay or Blue Jay Buzzard?

Video:  Bald-Headed Blue Jay or Blue Jay Buzzard?

A Bald Blue Jay or a new species of Blue Jay Buzzard? A rare vulture look for a Blue Jay in early September and the first I've seen in the Florida backyard in many years of watching. Molting is usually a gradual process, but for some reason once in awhile all the head feathers fall off at once. It is also possible it is mites or lice , but it only affects the head. You will see in the video that the rest of this bird looks fine. There are some raw red patches on its head and it has been seen scratching at its head. This bad hair blue jay was actually quite hard to film compared to the dozen or so other jays that frequent the backyard who look normal. This one was quite skittish and generally in a bad mood. I also have squirrels with skin problems this summer - big festering sores from parasitic fly larvae - a subject for another video. Here is some reference material on abnormally "bald birds".

http://benburtt.blogspot.com/2004/02/bald-headed-cardinals-and-blue-jays-in.html

http://feederwatch.org/learn/unusual-birds/

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Video:  Bald-Headed Blue Jay or Blue Jay Buzzard?

Blue Jay Catches Anole Lizard

Video: Blue Jay Catches Anole Lizard

A Blue Jay catches an Anole Lizard and stuffs it in the crevice of a tree branch to eat later as is their custom. Blue Jays may be common, but they are fascinating and intelligent birds and among the best hunters of the Backyard. No sound as I took this video through a window.

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Video: Blue Jay Catches Anole Lizard

Hand Feeding A Brown Thrasher Peanuts

Video: Hand Feeding A  Brown Thrasher Peanuts

A Brown Thrasher had secretly been watching from the heavy brush behind the Backyard as I was hand-feeding my Blue Jay friend 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAFE1SkiGt0

and suddenly appeared on the fence one day wanting a peanut too! At first I would throw the peanut on the ground and reward the Brown Thrasher for showing up, but it became a battle of quickness between the Blue Jay with the Thrasher losing by being reluctant to take a peanut. After a time the Brown Thrasher learned to wait for me by the fence and rapidly take a peanut. Not being one to hang around and socialize the normally stand-offish Thrasher quickly takes its peanut deep into the brush to crush and eat!

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Video: Hand Feeding A  Brown Thrasher Peanuts

Catbird and Blue Jay Friends

Video: Catbird and Blue Jay Friends 

My efforts to befriend a Gray Catbird had it at arm's length, but my old Blue Jay Buddy would have none of that. These two birds really show their emotions in their eyes and are obviously extremely intelligent!

For background on my Blue Jay friend see:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAFE1SkiGt0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFBXWTG7160

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWjtnfBjWQI

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Video: Catbird and Blue Jay Friends 

Hand Feeding My Blue Jay Buddy

Video: Hand Feeding My Blue Jay Buddy

Trained a Blue Jay to eat peanuts from my hand! As with any training, it helps if you have a motivated pupil to achieve success. I've often noticed that one member of a particular species will bond with humans and seem to develop a "deeper" relationship. Of course this usually involves food, and no doubt the balance between a self preservation instinct of avoiding humans and the easy availability of healthy food requires a risk analyses that the most intelligent and savvy are most likely to perform. I'm sure it wasn't my magnetic personality that sealed the deal - in any case we have a win-win relationship. Often the jay will make a very unique call when I approach with peanuts and also a characteristic two beak knocks on wood - that means - Peanut Now!. The preferred method by the Jay is to simply be handed a peanut, if I hold my open hand out it will fly to it. Next on to the Brown Thrasher who is starting to get jealous! Filmed with a cell phone which has advantages for one hand close up work and depth of field but can be a little shaky at times.

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Video: Hand Feeding My Blue Jay Buddy

Brown Thrasher Peanut Cracking Technique

Video: Brown Thrasher Peanut Cracking Technique

A Brown Thrasher has stolen the Blue Jays peanut and taken it deep in the brush - but it could use some pointers from the Jay on opening it. Then after all that exhausting hard work opening it - a squirrel steals it from the Thrasher! The Humanity! - That's the way of nature! It is interesting to watch the Thrasher repeatedly and strongly strike the peanut against the soft leaf litter and then break the nuts into smaller pieces to eat. I'm guessing that it will learn to put it into a wood crevice after cracking a few more nuts.

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Video: Brown Thrasher Peanut Cracking Technique

Hand Feeding Blue Jays Peanuts- Backyard Land Sharks!

Video: Hand Feeding Blue Jays - Backyard Land Sharks! 

Succeeded in hand-feeding our rather large Blue Jays, but almost lost a few fingers in the process ;-) 

See Part One -    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWjtnfBjWQI

Gradually "trained" them to come out in the open to an open hand after bringing the peanuts close to cover initially.  I now have them coming to me to eat at a window in somewhat of an orderly fashion. They are not too concerned about how much skin they get with the peanut as they are not ones to dilly-dally in an open hand! Trust only goes so far. The ubiquitous Blue Jay is taken for granted, but up close and personal they are strong, athletic mini-predators that can take out a lizard, small snake - or a peanut in the blink of an eye and they are the watchdogs of the backyard!

See Part One -    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWjtnfBjWQI

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Video: Hand Feeding Blue Jays - Backyard Land Sharks! 

Blue Jay Trains Human To Hand Feed It A Peanut !

Video: Blue Jay Trains Human To Hand Feed It A Peanut !

Blue Jay Trains Human To Hand Feed It A Peanut !

The narrative on the video tells the story. I trained a Blue Jay to eat peanuts from my hand - not just any peanuts, but healthy roasted and unsalted ones that I should be eating myself. Of course it's always nice to gain the trust of a wild animal, it is good for their survival that they have a natural wariness. But then it occurred to me that I was the one that had been "trained" to give the Jay a tasty peanut - and on its conditions. I'm not falling for that anymore, it has to come to me! We'll see who wins this battle of willpower? These are huge Blue Jays, it just may be that the Jay is too big to land on my hand and bend and easily get a peanut.

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Large Wild Red Rat Snake or Corn Snake - Alarm Sounded by Backyard Blue Jays

Large Wild Red Rat Snake or Corn Snake - Alarm Sounded by Backyard Blue Jays

Large Wil Red Rat Snake or Corn Snake in Florida

In this video a large Red Rat Snake nearly five feet long is discovered by Blue Jays - the security guards of the backyard - and the alarm is sounded. When you hear a bunch of Blue Jays making a ruckus in the backyard - grab your camera and head outside! Before I could get my camera set up several Blue Jays had surrounded the snake on the ground and were chastising it severely letting every creature within earshot know about this large predator.  This was still during bird nesting season the first week of May and while the Red Rat Snake mostly eats abundant lizards and small rodents they are known as great tree-climbers and will eat bird eggs and young birds in the nest. Our Screech Owl nest box is "snake proof" so that allows me to feel more charitable to the Big Ratter. It's all a balance, however, as I've seen Red Rat Snakes hanging from the talons of Red Shouldered Hawks in flight a number of times and at night the young Red Rat Snakes make up a part of the Screech Owl diet. One of the most "attractive" of U.S. snakes they are said to make good snake pets :-) . But their striking color tends to make people afraid of them - they are slow-moving, docile if left alone as the video shows and non-venomous. They are too often killed by homeowners. They are pretty much sitting ducks as the video illustrates.  They should not be killed. If you have one of these large beauties in your backyard you can have it trapped and relocated to the wild. Not sure how old this one is, but it likely took at least 4 or 5 years to reach nearly to 5 feet in length.

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