Perhaps the Jay was thirsty?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Crow_and_the_Pitcher
Lori M
Eugene
From: obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of ;
Dennis Vroman
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2016 5:29 PM
To: pat.truhn@xxxxxxxxx; Jeff and Lauretta Young; obol
Subject: [obol] Strange behavior
There has been Crows at our place (east of the Merlin I-5 exit) the have picked
up white stones (generally quarter size or smaller) and put them in the bird
bath. Believe they thought is was dried, hard bread and put them in the water
to soften them for a meal...but, didn't work on rocks.
Dennis
----- Original Message -----
From: Pat Truhn <mailto:pat.truhn@xxxxxxxxx>
To: Jeff and Lauretta Young <mailto:jeffandlaurettayoung@xxxxxxxxxxx> ; obol
<mailto:obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2016 1:11 PM
Subject: [obol] Re: Strange behavior
I know about eating gravel, but these were rocks that would likely be a bit
large to swallow, and probably 5-8 in number completely filling his beak... We
have this family of 6 scrub jays that live here year round and I have never
seen this. Just seemed odd to me. We raise chickens and they have to eat
gravel as well. But, the peck at it and this jay was collecting rocks.
On Mon, Mar 28, 2016 at 12:49 PM, Jeff and Lauretta Young
<jeffandlaurettayoung@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I think all birds “eat” gravel or pebbles for their gizzards to grind up food…
Lauretta
On Mar 28, 2016, at 8:55 AM, Pat <pat.truhn@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
We usually have 5-6scrub jays at our feeding table every day. This morning
one of them is picking up pea-sized pebbles, from the ground, like his entire
beak is stuffed with little rocks! Any thoughts on what he is doing?
