Ayrielle -

In your area, North Carolina I believe, Blue Jays and Northern Cardinals
are not nuisances (well, maybe to some people who haven't come to
appreciate birds). They are part of the indigenous bird life and "fit"
into the area. The concern of some of the respondents on Tweeters is
that, like most introduced birds, they might not necessarily fit into
the bird life/environment of the northwest. If they make it out here on
their own, that would be part of the ongoing process of biology.

But, the question is still pertinent, would they compete too unfavorably
with the "native" birds out our way. An analagous situation would be if
one of our more aggressive birds (such as the Stellar's Jay) were to
become established in your area, resulting in a decrease in the
population of your Blue Jays or Northern Cardinals. While I didn't grow
up with those birds, I certainly did enjoy them, and miss them, when I
lived back that way.

As a geographer I have learned that each region of the country (U.S. or
Canada) is both individually distinct and regionally interrelated. With
the instant, all-encompassing nature of the net and electronic
communications, all of us are going to have to come to an appreciation
of this viewpoint. It is all too easy for me, when reading about birds
in Connecticut or North Carolina to apply my western/northwestern
filter. We all have to stop and consider what is the local environment
like, how is it similar and how is it different from ours.

Good birding

Brian H. Bell
Woodinville, WA
bellasoc at isomedia.com