Bossy Backyard Blue Jay
Members of our community are familiar with my buddy Bossy Backyard Blue Jay, but if you just joined us, I will give you a little background information. Bossy Backyard Blue Jay lives in my backyard and he gets his name from, well, let’s just say his name suits him. He talks a lot and he thinks he is the ruler of the backyard. Sometimes he dive bombs my dad when I send him out to fill the bird feeders around our house. I shouldn’t laugh, but sometimes I can’t help myself. Bossy doesn’t bother my mom, in fact he sits on a branch and chats with her. My mom and I think it is my dad’s red hair that gets Bossy riled up. Maybe he thinks my dad is a cardinal or a red headed woodpecker, we just don’t know.
Winter can be super cold and snowy here in Ohio so we try to make sure the birds that share our outdoor habitat have some nice food, suet and a heated water source to keep their water from freezing. Earlier today, Bossy Backyard Blue Jay was squawking up a storm. I had just settled into my heated thinking circle for some Sunday afternoon meditation when he came knocking on the window.
Easy there buddy! Peanuts are on the way.
It was snowing and cold and he was out of peanuts! I know how panicked I get when I am out of chow, so I asked my dad if he would be nice enough to go out into the howling wind and snow to fill up Bossy Backyard Blue Jay’s feeder. My dad is really a good sport because I don’t think he wanted to but he has a big heart so out he went to Bossy Backyard Blue Jay’s rescue.
Peanut feast for Bossy Backyard Blue Jay
Blue Jays lower their crests when they are feeding peacefully with family. As you can see, Bossy Backyard Blue Jay’s feeder was filled and he was relaxed and ready to feast. Did you know that the pigment in Blue Jay feathers is melanin, which is brown. The beautiful blue color you see is caused by scattering light through modified cells on the surface of the feather barbs. The black bridle, or mask, across the Blue Jay’s face, nape and throat varies and is thought to help the birds recognize one another. Blue Jay’s are intelligent and have complex social systems with tight family bonds. They really are amazing birds.
Bossy Backyard Blue Jay is happy and full.
I know a lot of you think that Blue Jays are loud and domineering, but they are just doing what Blue Jay’s do. They are really quite beautiful, smart and great to have around. I love Bossy Backyard Blue Jay and I hope you will learn to love him too.
Sunday Afternoon with Gracey and Bossy Backyard Blue Jay
Lazy Leopard was able to capture today’s activities on video. We hope you enjoy the show.
Loved the video! I put put peanuts in a bowl on the deck so my cats could watch Fat Squirrel, but now I also put bird feed out for the wrens, cardinals, finches and blue jays. It’s my kitties’ favorite program.
I feed peanuts to the Blue Jays too! Every so often, one of the Cardinals takes one as well. I initially got the peanuts to feed the squirrels so they’d stay off the bird feeder (giving them something easier to get works better than any “trick” bird feeder around), but i noticed the Blue Jays taking them, so I started adding some to what I put on the feeder. Often, when I forget to fill the feeder, there’ll be a Blue Jay sitting on it, looking into the window, as if saying, “Hey, dude! Get on the ball and feed us, already!”
What a great video that you made of BBBJ, Gracey and Lazy Leopard. Even heard Dad’s footsteps crunching in the snow 🙂 Glad you are all happy and got to go back to your peaceful and restful Sunday nap. Wish we had BJ’s at our house. They are so beautiful. The look like a mosaic (not sure on the spelling). Such beautiful designs.
Thank you for watching Elizabeth. When BBBj is unhappy, the whole yard is unhappy. hahahaha! xoxoxo Gracey
Loved Gracey’s story and the video!
Thank you so much Barbara. xoxox Gracey
Thank you Barbara. xoxox Gracey