Dennis Paulson said,

> I wonder if Gray (or other) Jays store fat or if they just readily eat it
> to keep their furnace stoked during the winter.

That makes me wonder about their diet. Russell says the Steller's Jays
near Bill Tweit's house were hoarding chestnuts [are all the chestnuts
around here so-called horse chestnuts or are there some "real"
chestnuts?], which may be rich in oils, which may be deposited in fatty
tissue. But let's remember that fats are made largely from
carbohydrates; we all get fat from eating too many pastries and candies
and the like without enough exercise. So do these birds especially go
for foods rich in oils or foods rich in carbohydrates . . . or is there a
difference between Gray and Steller's?

Maybe a question for Gene Hunn is, Do the birds get the name "fat lover"
because they store fat or because they eat fat? I should think because
they eat fat, no? And did the natives of this area know that seeds have
fat in them? If not, what would they see Gray Jays eat that's fatty?

Burt Guttman guttmanb at elwha.evergreen.edu
The Evergreen State College Voice: 360-866-6000, x. 6755
Olympia, WA 98505 FAX: 360-866-6794