Bully Birds

Blue Jays are always considered the big bullies at the feeders. They fly in fast and their vocalizations intimidate and scare other birds. They have a variety of sounds and can mimic a hawk call. Known for their tight family bonds, they are very aggressive and territorial in their nesting and feeding areas, and will chase off cats, dogs and even humans. At the feeders they will stuff the seeds in a throat pouch to cache elsewhere. Of course some of the seeds and nuts are never recovered and these will eventually grow into new trees and plants. It has been stated that their fondness of acorns is credited with helping spread oak trees after the last glacial period. Intelligent birds who will watch a person planting seeds and afterwards will go and dig up and eat the seeds. Most likely they are partly to blame for all of the sunflower seeds I had planted, and then had to replant them all this past Spring. While they are all at the feeder stuffing themselves, the other poor birds are perched by waiting for their turn. Blue Jays hold the nut with their feet and crack it open with its bill. A female and male are identical in markings with the female a little smaller, this makes them hard to identify.