>Michael Smith wrote:
>
>> Steller's and Gray Jays: Gray Jays inhabit high elevation conifer
>> forests, Steller's Jays seem to be everywhere, though.

Several people have written about finding Gray Jays in the lowlands,
especially on the Olympic Peninsula. Gray Jays are locally common in
coastal forests all along the west coast, south to northern California.
They were probably much more common and widespread before the forests were
butchered. They occur in high forest at Fort Lewis, for example. I think
they are more characteristic of old-growth and mature forests, Steller's
perhaps more able to be successful in modified habitats.

Dennis Paulson, Director phone: (206) 756-3798
Slater Museum of Natural History fax: (206) 756-3352
University of Puget Sound e-mail: dpaulson at ups.edu
Tacoma, WA 98416