(INTO THE WOODS AND BEYOND!)
Everyone safe out there?
We’re feathered up against the flurries here today…tomorrow may be another story, it was in the 60’s just days ago.
To all of my friends on the West coast, I’m hoping that wherever you are, you’re high and dry and hanging in there.
To my friends in the South, I hope you’re all coming through the violent storms safely.
To those of you experiencing some of the earthquakes…well…pardon me…but, damn!
I don’t know exactly what this blue jay is looking at. Is it looking for a sunflower seed that has fallen to the ground? Perhaps it’s looking at a peanut taking a siesta below the bird feeder.
Someone suggested that the bluejay might be looking at a car that it’s thinking about buying. Another clever individual suggested that it’s trying to decide which pair of socks it wants to buy. Considering the fact that it’s eighty-five degrees and humid, I think that’s highly unlikely.
I think it’s simply looking…divine. Look at those perfect feathers, that magnificent color. Divine…simply divine.
More snow is on the way and I can’t wait to get back behind the lens of the camera.
This is one of my regulars…partial to peanuts, it gladly accepts other birdseed as well. I thought I might try something new on the menu. You might help me with suggestions…Oreo cookies are probably not the best thing to offer them.
Would pudding be a good choice?
How about celery?
Perhaps cooked oatmeal with a drizzle of honey on top?
Grilled cheese sandwiches come to mind, but some of the birds might be lactose intolerant.
I will be awaiting your suggestions with eager anticipation.
I only caught part of this bird conversation, but I heard enough to know all I needed to know.
The bluejay merely asked the woodpecker not to plop it’s entire body down on the food, to consider that others would be eating from that spot after it left.
I hate to tell you this, but there are some birds that can be a little selfish. It takes a strong bird to confront one of these types and to endure the self-righteous scolding that these greedy ones feel entitled to give.
I will attempt to be as brave as the bluejay and ask you all not to prostrate yourself on food that is meant to serve more than one person. Feel free to follow my lead and instruct your friends and family on proper etiquette.( This advice holds true whether in a home setting or restaurant setting.)
I want to make it perfectly clear that I am not a bird behavior specialist…although I have been mistaken for one at cocktail parties.
I am just a bird observer, a mere mortal with an uncanny ability to be wrong about a lot of things.
In the spirit of keeping my track record very blemished, I would like to offer my thoughts on the interaction above. The wide spread wings of the bluejay above may mean, “STOP”. Perhaps little bluejay birds were crossing the branches on their way to bluejay school, crossing guards are always needed and heeded.
I didn’t notice any traffic or construction, but the commanding posture of the wings could indicate that oncoming birds should take an alternate route. I’ve been told that these worker birds take a lot of verbal abuse from frustrated fliers.
One last possibility for this behavior is some kind of weird attempt to find a date for the “spring fling.” Personally I think this move just smacks of desperation and I suspect this bird will be shunned and become the catalyst for an urban myth about a creepy, inappropriate bird that lurked in the woods.
A WINDOW INTO THE WOODS 