According to _The Birder's Handbook_ (Ehrlich, Dobkin and Wheye, 1988):

"...recent experiments with (Clark's) Nutcrackers in aviaries, done by Stephen
Vander Waal of Utah State University, have shown clearly that individuals are
able to recall where they have cached seeds. The birds remember where seeds
are in relation to certain landmarks, such as rocks. If the landmarks are
moved, the areas the birds search are displaced by an equivalent amount."


An experiment could be easliy designed to test the jays in your backyard.
I have toyed with the notion of testing the Scrub Jays that come to my feeder,
haven't actually gotten around to it.



>
>I've enjoyed all the postings about mobbing behaviors... Any clues about
>the _stashing_ behaviors of Corvids, esp. Steller's Jays?
>
>Adults seem to gulp down 2-3 unshelled peanuts and fly off to stash them. Do
>they FIND them again? Or is this the same kind of mindless stashing that
>squirrels exhibit?
>
>Good birding! Cheers--EB (Ellen Blackstone, a.k.a. vaccine at u.washington.edu)
>
>

--
******************************** In the midst of the word he was trying to say
* Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR * In the midst of his laughter and glee,
* mpatters at ednet1.osl.or.gov * He had softly and suddenly vanished away---
******************************** For the Snark *was* a Boojum, you see. L