May I offer a different perspective? I hesitate to share this with you, but as a long time bird watcher & a host of various song bird species (providing nest boxes), I dislike scrub jays (that’s their name) very much. They kill song bird nestlings & destroy their nests (I have observed this predation more than once). I strongly discourage them from hanging out on my property. Due to their aggressiveness, they are extremely common & they have an easy time re-creating their nests, so I wouldn’t worry too much. What I watch & listen for are the song birds warning calls when the scrub jays get close to their nests. Then I come running!
Thank you for this, Becky. It’s good for me to know this. It’s the songbirds I love the most so it’s good for me to be aware. We’ve chosen not to feed any of the birds except hummers in the winter, so it’s kind of an egalitarian approach, although I never thought of it that way. I like the Jays but I haven’t witnessed what you’ve witnessed. It brings up that same question of when and for whom do we humans intervene? it’s a tough one. Always appreciate what you have to say so carry on saying it! Thank you.
Ah... the birds. In my case, the Redwing black birds - the burly bullies on the block. I can't ignore the Redwings, but I've bought smaller feeders so the smaller birds can snack without fighting for a place at the table. Love your line, "as though the cat were a dog who understands English." Unfortunately, cats are not dogs.
darn cats! they're so wonderful but so hazardous to the birds. Our neighborhood cat, Magnet, arrived this morning and sat on the back step until I came out with a wee bit of tuna. She was obviously hungry. Her humans rescued her but rely on others to help with her feeding...not sure I love that, but then I think, well, why not? She's a nice cat who was abandoned by an OSU student, so maybe we all need to help.
The particular bird that we mid-valley birders have been working to restore is the western bluebird. Humans have been the cause of their decline bc they like to nest in tree cavities which are created from huge branches on big old trees rotting off or the trunks rotting away. We humans don’t like big old rotting trees so they are few & far between. I’m on the Bluebird Trail initiated by Elsie Elsroth in the 70’s. She’s gone now & her volunteers too but the Audubon Society has taken over. They monitor all my nest boxes, not just bluebirds as some other songbirds are helpful in warning off the predators so nice to provide nest boxes for them too.
You’ve probably seen the bluebird boxes along the pasture on the way up to the Mulkey Creek trail if you hike over there. Those are supposed to be monitored also, but not sure. I could go on all day about birds!
Good grief, what a lot of effort you showed! I haven’t EVER had such a close encounter with adult birds except some wrens who nest just off our bedroom deck every year . They appreciate strawberries and blueberries I toss out there. The pinyon jays are so brilliant, I just love to see them. We can not have bird feeders, as they are bear feeders…
May I offer a different perspective? I hesitate to share this with you, but as a long time bird watcher & a host of various song bird species (providing nest boxes), I dislike scrub jays (that’s their name) very much. They kill song bird nestlings & destroy their nests (I have observed this predation more than once). I strongly discourage them from hanging out on my property. Due to their aggressiveness, they are extremely common & they have an easy time re-creating their nests, so I wouldn’t worry too much. What I watch & listen for are the song birds warning calls when the scrub jays get close to their nests. Then I come running!
Thank you for this, Becky. It’s good for me to know this. It’s the songbirds I love the most so it’s good for me to be aware. We’ve chosen not to feed any of the birds except hummers in the winter, so it’s kind of an egalitarian approach, although I never thought of it that way. I like the Jays but I haven’t witnessed what you’ve witnessed. It brings up that same question of when and for whom do we humans intervene? it’s a tough one. Always appreciate what you have to say so carry on saying it! Thank you.
Ah... the birds. In my case, the Redwing black birds - the burly bullies on the block. I can't ignore the Redwings, but I've bought smaller feeders so the smaller birds can snack without fighting for a place at the table. Love your line, "as though the cat were a dog who understands English." Unfortunately, cats are not dogs.
darn cats! they're so wonderful but so hazardous to the birds. Our neighborhood cat, Magnet, arrived this morning and sat on the back step until I came out with a wee bit of tuna. She was obviously hungry. Her humans rescued her but rely on others to help with her feeding...not sure I love that, but then I think, well, why not? She's a nice cat who was abandoned by an OSU student, so maybe we all need to help.
The particular bird that we mid-valley birders have been working to restore is the western bluebird. Humans have been the cause of their decline bc they like to nest in tree cavities which are created from huge branches on big old trees rotting off or the trunks rotting away. We humans don’t like big old rotting trees so they are few & far between. I’m on the Bluebird Trail initiated by Elsie Elsroth in the 70’s. She’s gone now & her volunteers too but the Audubon Society has taken over. They monitor all my nest boxes, not just bluebirds as some other songbirds are helpful in warning off the predators so nice to provide nest boxes for them too.
You’ve probably seen the bluebird boxes along the pasture on the way up to the Mulkey Creek trail if you hike over there. Those are supposed to be monitored also, but not sure. I could go on all day about birds!
I love that you're taking care of the birds in your life, Becky. Thank you. All of this makes me more mindful...
Good grief, what a lot of effort you showed! I haven’t EVER had such a close encounter with adult birds except some wrens who nest just off our bedroom deck every year . They appreciate strawberries and blueberries I toss out there. The pinyon jays are so brilliant, I just love to see them. We can not have bird feeders, as they are bear feeders…
I was thrilled to see a Stellar Jay the other day. So fancy with his big feathery hat...the kind my grandmother would wear!