Bird of the Month - The Blue Jay

• Acom Architects & Ecosystem Engineers - Blue jays cache hundreds of acorns each autumn in local oaks. Many of these never get retrieved, helping regenerate woodland areas across Bucks County and beyond.
• Structural Coloration, Not Pigment - Their vibrant blue isn't from pigment-it's the result of light scattering off microscopic feather structures. If a feather's crushed, the blue fades to brown.
• Mimicry & Vocal Versatility - Jays convincingly imitate local hawks (like red-shouldered and red-tailed) and even owls, startling other birds at feeders-a clever tactic to obtain food.
• Diet Misconceptions Debunked - Despite their fierce reputation, blue jays rarely raid nests-only about 1% of their diet is eggs or nestlings. Instead, they mainly consume insects, seeds, nuts, and fruit.
•  Intelligent & Social Corvids - These birds exhibit tight family bonds, lifelong pairings, and strategic behaviors. They stash food in throat pouches, use tools, and may even assist neighboring jays in nest defense.
•  Migratory Mysteries - In our area, most blue jays stick around year-round, but some head south in loose flocks along the Atlantic seaboard. Migration patterns remain complex and variable.
• Local Nesting Habits - Nests are typically built 8-30 feet high, in dense trees or shrubs. Both parents aggressively defend chicks-responding loudly to threats with mobbing behavior.

* If you are looking for more information on Lower Makefield Township's Bird Town Pennsylvania you can click on Bird Town under the website's Information Tab.