Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Pinyon Jays of Madison County

Pinyon Jays are a noisy bunch as they flock together in the winter in southeastern Madison County.  They usually travel with a flock of starlings and with the two flocks, they can go through a lot of food for a friend of mine. 

They love sunflower seeds and are skilled at feeding on pine cones.  Their long strong bill can break through the pine cones and harvest the seeds.


Some people believe that they migrate to Yellowstone Park in the summer, but expert birders think they become very quiet when paired up and raising their young.  Experts believe that they stay in the same general area, but scatter through the local groves of junipers for the summer.

at

13 comments:

  1. theconstantwalkerFebruary 21, 2012 at 12:25 PM

    Your Jays are wonderful to see..
    Lovely images.

    ReplyDelete
  2. TexWisGirlFebruary 21, 2012 at 12:56 PM

    would love to see those beauties! thanks for sharing!

    (bill, would you consider removing word verification from your blog? it is terrible to use now. thanks!)

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownFebruary 21, 2012 at 1:08 PM

    They may be loud, but they're attractive!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

    ReplyDelete
  4. jooFebruary 21, 2012 at 1:40 PM

    They are different then the Jays here, but very pretty!

    ReplyDelete
  5. CarlettaFebruary 21, 2012 at 2:29 PM

    Definitely different than our Blue Jays but lovely as well.
    I love the pretty little starlings but yes, they can empty the feeder quickly.
    Nice shots Bill!

    ReplyDelete
  6. mickFebruary 21, 2012 at 2:41 PM

    Great photos of interesting birds.

    ReplyDelete
  7. eileeninmdFebruary 21, 2012 at 2:56 PM

    Wonderful images of the Jays. I have seen these birds in Yellowstone. Thanks for sharing. I hope you have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
  8. AnonymousFebruary 22, 2012 at 4:30 AM

    Much different than the jays we see here in Nebraska. Such a beautiful indigo blue -- great captures, Bill!

    ReplyDelete
  9. holdingmomentsFebruary 22, 2012 at 2:21 PM

    Lovely birds.

    ReplyDelete
  10. SpringmanFebruary 22, 2012 at 6:01 PM

    Gorgeous bird Bill!
    ;-)WBW!

    ReplyDelete
  11. AFTERMATHFebruary 28, 2012 at 7:47 AM

    Great Pinyon shots. I went to Colorado a couple of years ago to visit my son. I got Stellars and Pinyon which were new Jays to me. Lovely birds, nice work!

    ReplyDelete
  12. LynneMarch 15, 2012 at 4:39 AM

    You are a wonderful photographer . . . love the color of the Pinyon . . . not like the Jays we see in Michigan. My first to see from you . . .

    ReplyDelete
  13. MaryaApril 4, 2012 at 1:54 PM

    I've never seen Pinyon Jays before.
    Where can I see them in Madison County? I'd love to try and find them.

    ReplyDelete