Species: Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
Family: Crows (CORVIDAE)
Category: Birds
Location: NW
A. Birds
More extensive information on birds can be found in a separate blog post.
B. Crows (CORVIDAE)
Who could not admire the crows? They are intelligent and adaptable, some being users of tools, and they will exploit any food source, plant or animal, living or dead. They have stout beaks, are long-lived, and are generally monogamous. They may not be the world's most tuneful songsters, but their scavenging activities make them most useful in both urban and rural areas.
The number of crows seen together has various connotations in folklore depending on which part of the country the superstitions come from. Crows have long been scavengers on battlefields, and this may be the reason why their appearance elsewhere was regarded as ominous, usually portentous of death or ill luck.
C. Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
Jays are resident breeders in woodland and town, feeding on invertebrates, fruit, and seeds. They cache acorns, assisting in the spread of oak forests. At a population level of 170000 pairs in 2016 their conservation status is GREEN.
In folklore jays have a reputation for spreading mischief. As the generic name suggests, they are noisy, communicative birds.
Images
Jay
Jays are resident breeders in woodland and town, feeding on invertebrates, fruit, and seeds. Their Latin name, Garrulus glandarius, is appropriate as Jays do indeed sound particularly garrulous.
Jay
Jays cache acorns, assisting in the spread of oak forests. At a population level of 170000 pairs in 2016 their conservation status is GREEN.
Jay
Jay's are notoriously shy, avoiding human contact whenever possible. Capturing them on film is best done with a motion-sensitive camera, as has been done here.
(Photo credit: Dora Nightingale.)
Jay
A Jay beginning the downbeat wing-flap heads for a motion-activated camera!
(Photo credit: Dora Nightingale.)
