About the scrub jays:

Clarice and I have lived in Puyallup for 25 plus years now and we
started seeing no more than one scrub jay here (in any single year)
about 5 years ago. The last two years the "apparent" population has
doubled, and this year we have seen two at a time on two separate
occasions. In all cases hanging around quiet in town yards in
southwest part of town, acting kind of furtive. This last time we saw
two of them being very unpopular with the Steller's jays.

I also remember a while ago someone mentioning low level gray
jays. We have banded obvious hatch year birds at least once at
Fort Lewis at the MAPS station there (Which of course is at Tacoma
elevation). Last spring caught two still with some down and also
had two adults screaming at us at the nets. I know this does not
"prove" they are breeding there, but I kind of doubt the parents are
bringing their young down from the mountains to play soldier.

Jerry Broadus, PLS
Geometrix Surveying, Inc.
P.O. Box 249
Puyallup, WA. 98371