Hi, Tweeters.

Jerry Blinn wrote:

>In any case, having watched the various jay species at work in many areas
>of the
>country, I suspect they kill far more birds (including those in the egg stage)
>than we realize. On the other hand, they are more "natural" predators -- man's
>activities have increased the crow populations tremendously, opened up nesting
>habitat to cowbirds, and inserted pet and feral cats into the formula. I don't
>think we have increased jay populations that much.

I agree for the most part but beg to differ on the last item. I believe we
have indeed helped increase jay populations. Fragmentation of habitat (such
as clearcutting and road-building in conifer forests) creates "edge
habitats" which are easily exploited by adaptable species such as Steller's
jays. I know that, of the relatively few Marbled Murrelet nests that have
been observed - the majority of which have failed - jays have been the
documented or suspected cause more than once. (It should be noted that the
murrelet nests most easily discovered and observed by humans have been on
forest edges.) Jays have been observed to approach murrelets on nests and
"harass" them. There is dramatic video footage from California of a
Steller's jay knocking a murrelet chick off the nest limb and/or making off
with it. I have also been told by California researchers how a Steller's
jay was observed following a tree climber from branch to branch as he went
up a redwood to make measurements after a murrelet fledged from another
nest. I know that researchers on other species have also expressed concern
that their actions not draw the attention of jays which could predate the
nests of the species they were studying. They are intelligent and curious
birds.

My impression from listening in to Tweeter discussions in the last couple
years is that scrub jays are expanding their range northward - correct? And
could I go out on a limb and hypothesize that blue jays could be starting
the same progress from the east? Anyone have information on that score?

At any rate, crows should not take all the heat for being predatory
corvids. Jays and ravens share the blame. And all are "natural" predators.
The worst offenders remain humans and their domesticated animal companions.

-- Janet Hardin
Port Townsend, WA
wings at olympus.net