Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Blue Jays Of The Vermilon River. A Post to World Bird Wednesday




Again, I like these guys and their crazy antics, and  their plumage is bright on a dull winter day so I'm always happy to see them. Here are some more facts about Blue Jays:
1) Their blue colour is due to the structure of their feathers that react with light to produce the vivid colour. Crush the feather and the blue is gone.
2) They mimic the calls of hawks and will band together to drive off predators.
3) They also can be taught to mimic human sounds as can their cousins the crow and the raven. Although, I understand they draw the line at minicing Stephen Harper the PM of Canada.
For more facts go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Jay

A Post to World Bird Wednesday. For more sites go to http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/
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56 comments:

  1. theconstantwalkerFebruary 1, 2011 at 1:57 PM

    Thanks for the info Gary. A really beautiful little bird to see with all the different shades of blue.

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  2. AnonymousFebruary 1, 2011 at 2:31 PM

    That is the most beautiful shade of blue. Enlarged it makes a great image. Would be nice to see one in real life. That blue must sparkle in the sun.

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  3. UnknownFebruary 1, 2011 at 2:45 PM

    As always, great images and insightful remarks! Thanks for sharing . these guys are too flighty in my yard to get any good shots yet...but my quest continues:)

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  4. SondraFebruary 1, 2011 at 3:09 PM

    I love your Jay photos! I didnt know that about the feather color very interesting!! They can make some very strange sounds for sure--
    Im sure the PM is happy to be safe from Identity Theft-lol

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  5. DaveFebruary 1, 2011 at 3:36 PM

    a striking bird..... you captured the plumage very well again.

    Our Eurasion Jay, although not blue is another fantasticaly coluourful species

    Cheers Gary

    Dave

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  6. MaryFebruary 1, 2011 at 3:56 PM

    They are such a beautiful colorful addition to the bird world. Hard to belive the blue is unreal, but I've always heard that.

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  7. BeckyFebruary 1, 2011 at 4:38 PM

    They are pests here, but certainly are a gorgeous pest, and I have lots of them. I especially like the screechy call of the youngsters as they practice their voices.
    B.

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  8. LarryFebruary 1, 2011 at 5:22 PM

    Beautiful, bright shots of the Blue Jays Gary! Not only are they gorgeous birds, they're smart too!

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  9. UnknownFebruary 1, 2011 at 6:37 PM

    Hi Andrew. Spectacular colours aren't they?

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  10. UnknownFebruary 1, 2011 at 6:38 PM

    Hi DorG. They sparkle in the sun alright. They're part of the crow family.

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  11. UnknownFebruary 1, 2011 at 6:39 PM

    Hi John. Flighty they are, but curious too.

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  12. UnknownFebruary 1, 2011 at 6:40 PM

    Hi Dixxe. Thanks for the visit. We wish someone would steal the PM.

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  13. UnknownFebruary 1, 2011 at 6:41 PM

    Hi Dave I've seen the Eurasian on UK sites. They're beauties.

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  14. UnknownFebruary 1, 2011 at 6:44 PM

    Hi Mary. How cleaver nature is. The ruby- Throated Hummingbird is the same. Take him out of the sun and he has no colour.

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  15. UnknownFebruary 1, 2011 at 6:45 PM

    Hi B&G. Yes they can be pests, but very interesting ones.

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  16. UnknownFebruary 1, 2011 at 6:46 PM

    Hi Larry. Yes they part of the crow family and they're a sharp family.

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  17. Martha ZFebruary 1, 2011 at 7:40 PM

    They are beautiful.

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  18. Sally in WAFebruary 1, 2011 at 8:43 PM

    Love the vibrant plumage, Gary. Excellent captures.

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  19. mickFebruary 1, 2011 at 9:20 PM

    Great photos. I love that blue color and it would certainly brighten a dull day!

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  20. holdingmomentsFebruary 1, 2011 at 9:52 PM

    They are beauties Gary.
    I love their colour and wing markings.

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  21. Small City ScenesFebruary 1, 2011 at 9:52 PM

    Beautiful shots of this spunky bird. We don't have this Jay out here but we do have, what we call Blue Jays, The Stellar Jay. It is all blue. They've been around all winter and when we had walnut trees they would drive me crazy. MB

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  22. ArijaFebruary 1, 2011 at 11:04 PM

    The colour of the Jays compliments Boom's beautiful coat. The iridescence
    disappears just like on a blue butterfly's wing when damaged. I love how cheeky they are.

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  23. MarvinFebruary 2, 2011 at 1:09 AM

    High marks for beauty, but not so high marks for "gets along well with others". The iridescent color of many insects also results from structure and not pigment.

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  24. UnknownFebruary 2, 2011 at 2:04 AM

    They are some of my favorite birds!
    I love their colours and plumage!
    It always makes me happy when I find a feather of these guys :)
    Lovely shots!

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  25. Hilke BrederFebruary 2, 2011 at 4:16 AM

    I always enjoy seeing for their regal posture and gorgeous blue colors. Nice pics, Gary.

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  26. UnknownFebruary 2, 2011 at 6:43 AM

    Thanks Martha for the good words.

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  27. UnknownFebruary 2, 2011 at 6:44 AM

    Hi Sally. They are beautiful!

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  28. UnknownFebruary 2, 2011 at 6:45 AM

    Hi Mick. Their antics brighten up the day also.

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  29. UnknownFebruary 2, 2011 at 6:46 AM

    Hi Keith. Those rear markings sparkle in the sun.

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  30. UnknownFebruary 2, 2011 at 6:47 AM

    To SCS. They are spunky!!!

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  31. UnknownFebruary 2, 2011 at 6:49 AM

    Hi Arija. As I said above they're spunky. Boom likes all the birds, big or small.

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  32. UnknownFebruary 2, 2011 at 6:50 AM

    Hi Marvin. Isn't nature incredible, she knows more about physics than we do!!

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  33. AnonymousFebruary 2, 2011 at 6:51 AM

    I love these guys too! Nice post!

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  34. UnknownFebruary 2, 2011 at 6:51 AM

    Thanks Nicole.Coming from you a pro the compliments mean something.

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  35. UnknownFebruary 2, 2011 at 6:52 AM

    Hi Hilke. They are regal looking,although they don't act like it.

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  36. UnknownFebruary 2, 2011 at 6:53 AM

    Hi Pattyler1. Thanks for the good words.

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  37. Empty NesterFebruary 2, 2011 at 8:41 AM

    I like blue jays too! There are several that visit our feeders and deck every day. It's gotten to the point that they seem to pose for the camera! Love your shots!

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  38. Dawn FineFebruary 2, 2011 at 10:11 AM

    Blue Beauties!

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  39. UnknownFebruary 2, 2011 at 12:33 PM

    Thanks EmptyNester.

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  40. UnknownFebruary 2, 2011 at 12:34 PM

    They sure are Dawn.

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  41. SpringmanFebruary 2, 2011 at 12:48 PM

    Gary,
    My Jays don't pose so well. Like HoldingMoments one has to be a wildlife gunslinger, fast on the draw, to get such wonderful pictures! I'm hearing we got 15" of snow in Midland yesterday, did the big storm stay south of you?
    Give Boom a little scratch behind the ears for me. I just saw a Musher and his team last weekend. Incredible!

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  42. UnknownFebruary 2, 2011 at 1:01 PM

    All to the south of us Springman. The sun is shining here can you believe it.

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  43. Bob BushellFebruary 2, 2011 at 1:23 PM

    The Blue Jay is so elegant, good shooting Gary.

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  44. UnknownFebruary 2, 2011 at 2:46 PM

    Thanks Bob.

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  45. Adam TiltFebruary 2, 2011 at 2:55 PM

    Fascinating information regarding the feathers and great photos.

    Adam @ My Life Outside

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  46. Sallie (FullTime-Life)February 3, 2011 at 5:10 AM

    A beautiful bird. The feathers, especially in your first picture, are a work of art! I remember learning about the blue color in a bird class I took one time years ago. In Oregon, we had stellar jays (with a comb) and scrub jays -- yours looks different from either of those. The feathers seem more intricate.

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  47. UnknownFebruary 3, 2011 at 7:49 AM

    Thanks Adam for the words.

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  48. UnknownFebruary 3, 2011 at 7:51 AM

    Hi Sallie. I checked out your jays on the web. They're great also. I think the tail feathers are incredible in our jays. They seem to vibrate in colour.

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  49. UnknownFebruary 3, 2011 at 10:59 AM

    These blues are amazing! Terrific captures.

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  50. UnknownFebruary 3, 2011 at 11:05 AM

    They certainly are JM,especially since they're not there.

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  51. tiptoethruphylsgarden.blogspot.comFebruary 3, 2011 at 2:45 PM

    I too love the blue jay.When I hear a flock of them in the woods,I know that there`s a hawk nearby.By the time I go for my camera,they have banded together with the other birds to drive the hawk away.Their coloring is so beautiful ,beautiful shots,Gary,phylliso

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  52. UnknownFebruary 4, 2011 at 6:48 AM

    Hi phylliso. Thanks for the kind words.

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  53. Johnny NutcaseFebruary 4, 2011 at 4:39 PM

    Jays (including Blue Jays) are so pretty. These guys are so feisty! and like Larry said, smart too. Great shots!

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  54. Iowa Gardening WomanFebruary 4, 2011 at 6:34 PM

    Such beautiful birds and you captured their beautiful blue color!

    The custom of the southern bottle tree is that evil spirits get caught up in the bottles and cannot find their way out and therefore can not get into the home.

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  55. UnknownFebruary 5, 2011 at 5:25 AM

    Hi Johnny. Thanks for the visit and kind words.

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  56. UnknownFebruary 5, 2011 at 5:25 AM

    Hi IGW. That's an interesting custom.

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