My husband and I camped overnight at Cougar Rock Campground last night at
Mt. Rainier and hiked up to Panarama Point above Paradise this morning. We
were disappointed not to find any ptarmigan but we did enjoy two Stellar
jays in the campground that were very tame and ate out of my hand. (I know,
I know ~ you're not supposed to feed them, but I love having the gray jays
land on the table and eat out of your hand.) There were no gray jays this
time but these two banded Stellar jays arrived and I was amazed that they
would land on my hand. I have been trying to tame the Stellar jays I feed
peanuts to every morning in my backyard in Kent, but they are too wary.
Not these two at Mt. Rainier. Anybody have any input of why or who is
banding Stellar jays at Mt. Rainier?

Linda Bartlett
Kent