Sticks and Stones - Sample page

J is for Jays

The Mexican jay is a ubiquitous bird in the valley, living in large, noisy family groups having up to 25 members. Only one or two nests per season result from these groups. Child raising responsibilities are shared among the larger group, not only the parents. When feeding, jays will leave a guard bird to alert the group to the presence of predators. Flickers sometimes take advantage of this guard by feeding with the jays. The jays bury large numbers of acorns, one at a time, to retrieve as a food source during the winter. By doing so, they act as farmers, guaranteeing that those acorns not needed (or perhaps not found again) will plant a new generation of trees to yield a continuous food supply.