Stellar Jay - https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/183256501

My observation for this week is the Steller Jay, and its species name is the Cyanocitta stelleri. They are in the same category as ravens, crows, jackdaws, and magpies. These Corvidae are some of today's most intelligent, sassy, and fun birds. First, the Stellar Jay that visited me is one of four couples I have watched throughout the summer. They usually will tell me they are near with their ungodly screeching, almost a caw, but their throats sound as though they are sore, like they have been smoking too much. I keep a bag of nuts around and throw a few out when they see me walking along the usual path I take a couple of times a week.
An interesting fact about Steller Jay's name comes from the naturalist Georg Steller, "an 18th-century German botanist, zoologist, physician, and explorer" (1). He had many animals and plants named after him because he was "credited with discovering a number of animals and plants, some of which bear his name, either in the common or scientific name." (1) One of them was the "Steller Sea Cow" which went extinct during his lifetime. Here are some other names you might have heard and never knew that it was this man and where their names came from: the Steller sea eagle and Steller sea lion. The Steller Jay was named after him in 1741. (2)
Now for some interesting facts about them. They and the blue jay are the only ones in North America with a crest. They are the only "New World jays that use mud to build their nests." (2) Steller Jays have a considerable variation in colors ranging from hues of blue to black. They are known to be nest robbers, especially the Dark-eyed Junco and the Pygmy nuthatch, which on Baranof Island we have many. Another astonishing thing about these crazy birds is their ability to mimic almost anything they hear: other birds, squirrels, cats, dogs, chickens and even things like cars and lawnmowers. (2)
The last interesting fact I read is, "The oldest recorded Steller's Jay was a male, and at least 16 years one month old when he was found in Alaska in 1987. He was originally banded there in 1972." (2)

(1) https://rachelcarsoncouncil.org/rcc-bird-watch-and-wonder-program/bird-lore/stellers-jay-whats-name/
(2) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Stellers_Jay/overview

Publicado el septiembre 14, 2023 07:20 TARDE por gayleenjacobs