Love that Jay

Most people have nothing good to say about Jays.  Of course, they are speaking mostly about the Blue Jay.  Yet, there is one member of the family that gets rave reviews.  People travel from all over the world to see this particular Jay, the Green Jay.

Like the Blue Jay, it is gregarious, bold and noisy. Unlike the Blue Jay its range is limited.  The Blue Jay ranges over two-third of the United States from the Atlantic to the Rockies.  The Green jay is restricted to South Texas and the eastern regions of Mexico and Central America. While the Blue Jay is common within the suburbs and woodlands, you are more likely to find the Green Jay in brush near streams or flowing water.

Urban Hawk

Many are absolutely surprised upon seeing a bird of prey streak through their very urban back yard.  Landing in the neighbor’s tree was this Red Tailed Hawk (note the belly band) while we visited Pittsford Village in upstate New York.

 

Enjoyment is the word more than surprise for me at these kinds of events.  It’s all because of the heat island effect.  Cities generate heat making the climate more attractive to wild creatures such as chipmunks, squirrels, groundhogs and songbirds.  In turn here come the predators to this concentration of food.  (There were many chipmunks to be had—everywhere.)

So, here is my challenge.  Start a list of all the birds and animals you see around your house.  I’m willing to bet there is an abundance that may have gone unnoticed by you.  I’m thinking you’ll be surprised and delighted and even become quite knowledgeable.

 

The Kingbird's Mecca

 

This guy has drug his family all over to places he wished to see, and there was always an objective, be it historical, cultural, or otherwise.  However, this place was and would always be a place I would love to visit.  We found ourselves in northern New York and I knew we were very close to this locale.  Yet, I did not feel the family would want to go having stated other activities and places they wished to do.  I stayed quiet and thought maybe some other time.  To my surprise, my dearly beloved noticed in a search just how close we were to the Sapsucker Woods and stated we must go.  She also asked why I hadn’t thought of it.  I had! But I didn’t think everyone would go along with the idea.

Birders know of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.  Anyone who has spent some time studying and reading about the birding community knows this is the place—the place of great research and knowledge.  It has a wonderful website replete with information.  And there are woods and wetlands and marches surrounding the lab. Go walk around or simply visit the center and sit at the windows watching the birds come to the pond or feeder garden.  ‘Tis worth it.