And one last posting this evening...

On the morning of the 22nd I noticed a pair of Steller's Jay carrying nest-
building material into an ornamental shrub just outside my kitchen window.
For the prior two or three days I had seen them there occasionally,
probably conducting their reconnaissance. The first material to be placed
was small shreds of plastic bags; only later did they begin placing twigs
and dry grass. I've not yet measured the nest, but it appears to be
approaching 8 to 9 inches diameter, so it's probably nearing completion.
It's 5 feet above ground in a 7-foot tall shrub. I'll not have a clear
view into the nest - it's built on a crotch of branches against the trunk,
and is partly obscured by foliage - but they don't seem to even notice me
when I'm staring out the window at them.

Doug

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Douglas Canning
Olympia, Washington
dcanning at zhonka.net
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