Just now while working in my back yard I saw a Steller's Jay fly to our
roof; grayish-crested, a bit fluffy, clearly young of the year. In his
beak he carried a peanut, and he hopped along the edge of the roof
deliberately inspecting the gutter. I guess it needs to be cleaned out; he
tamped down the peanut and put a bit of debris on top for camouflage.
Didn't seem concerned with my presence. Satisfied with his work, he flew
off.
Thirty seconds later, in comes a Western Scrub-Jay to the exact spot. The
peanut was quickly exposed, grabbed, and made away with. A lesson learned
for the young bird!
--
Grant Canterbury
<grantandstacy17@xxxxxxxxx>
