Season of the Jay
Why not spend a little time this January getting to know the members of the jay family. While these common birds often get a bad rap for being noisy scavengers, they represent one of the most visible families of birds in the mountains. Locally, the jay family is represented during the winter months by the large black raven, raucous black-billed magpie, Clark's nutcracker, and Canada, Steller's and blue jays.
While
the American crow is sensible
enough to head to warmer climes in the winter, other members of the jay
family tough out the mountain climate year-round.
The raven has been maligned throughout the ages, often being used as a symbol of evil and death. In actual fact the raven, like all the other area residents, fulfills an important role in the mountain ecosystem.
Surprisingly common, its rasping call can be easily recognized as it travels the mountain airwaves. Look for raven's feeding on carrion alongside highways. Ravens are not picky about what they eat. Their diet includes carrion, garbage, eggs, small animals or anything else they can sink their beak into. They are quick to discover fresh wolf or cougar kills, and will hang around until the bones are picked clean.
Ravens seem to have a well developed social structure although little is known of its inner workings. They spend the day sitting on lamp posts and tall trees scouring the horizon for signs of food. They are agile fliers, performing barrel roles and dives while soaring on the mountain updrafts. At night they disappear to communal roosting spots.
The black-billed magpie is one of the most recognizable birds in the mountains. It's black and white colouration, long tail and long black bill make it easily identifiable. Look for magpies in and around all of our mountain communities.
The
Clark's nutcracker and Canada (or gray) jay are often confused. They are
both adept at stealing your lunch if you turn your back on it, and they
are both largely gray in colour, but that's where the similarity stops.
The nutcracker resembles a cross between a gray jay and a woodpecker. It's primarily gray in colour with black and white wings and a long black beak. The beak is it's most distinctive feature as it provides the best way to differentiate it from a Gray Jay.
The large beak is used to pry open the seeds of various trees, particularly the Whitebark Pine. Long and thin, it makes short work of even the toughest cones. It's also handy for pecking away at rotten wood to get at insects and grubs.
After collecting the food, it's hidden by
sticking it on branches or behind bark--or even stuffing it into the
ground. It'll all get eaten on some day when the hikers aren't around. The Canada Jay is similar in colour,
with a lighter coloured head and a much smaller beak. This comical jay is
a common sight along cross-country ski and hiking trails. They seem to
soar in on silent wings to boldly perch right beside hikers and skiers.
They then beg for handouts, often taking food right out of peoples hands.
It is not advisable to feed them though. The lunches packed by most skiers
does not fit their normal diet of carrion, insects, seeds and other winter
finds. It is also important to keep them from becoming dependant upon
human handouts. The skiers may not always be available for handouts.
Of
all the jays, the Steller's and blue jays are the most vividly coloured.
The Steller's jay is a brilliant blue with a black head and a visible
crest. The more famous blue jay has a light underside and white cheeks
with a black border. The crest is blue rather than the black of the
Steller's jay.
Blue jays are a new entry to the mountains. They are well known as an eastern jay, but are making rapid inroads into the Rockies. The rasping call is becoming more common in communities like Canmore. They are quick to visit bird feeders and will compete with the red squirrel for the feeders bounty.