The Blue Jay
Journal Title
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Issue Date
2023
Authors
Zalesski, Alexandra
Publisher
Keywords
STEM Photo Contest
Abstract
Description
The infamous bully of everyone’s backyard, the Blue Jay can be seen staking out any competition to a nearby birdfeeder in this image, but why are these birds so aggressive? Blue Jays are territorial birds and often claim bird feeders as part of their territory. Similarly, larger birds and also ground animals cause competition for Blue Jays as they hunt and forage in their territory. Blue Jays tend to defend their space and will even drive out larger predatory birds from it. Additionally, bands of Blue Jays dissuade animals and birds away to protect their young. They imitate bird calls of hawks and other raptors to scare them away from stealing their food, and eggs, and from settling in their territory. So while these birds get a bad rap for being aggressive, they simply do it due to their natural survival instinct.