Hi Tweets,

The Western Scrub-Jays are definitely on a marked increase in the North End
of Tacoma. In 1997 a pair took up residence near the University of Puget
Sound in the neighborhood centered around the intersection of North 11th and
Cedar Streets. It seems that there is a critical mass of people feeding
peanuts to the squirrels in the neighborhood and the Jays moved right in and
took advantage of such a perfect food source. In 1998 I watched the pair
build a nest in a laurel hedge, but this nest was unsuccessful. In 1999, we
had our first Western Scrub-Jay wars with two pairs fighting over the same
peanuts at the feeder. In 2000, I've located at least 4 different pairs in
the North End of Tacoma, 3 near UPS and 1 pair near Old Town down by the
waterfront.

If you live in Tacoma, University Place, Lakewood or Fircrest, let me know
if you've seen Western Scrub-Jays at your feeders and we'll try and make
sure we catch them on the Tacoma Christmas Bird Count.

Good Birding,
Marcus Roening Tacoma,WA
mdr51044 at glaxowellcome.com