[birding] Re: [obol] Steller's Jay imitating others

[Karan & Jim Fairchild]

Hi Michael,

Yes, but our Steller's Jay was imitating a Clark's Nutcracker.  Over their range, STJA overlap with CLNU, but we heard this at our 
home in the Coast Range, where CLNU have only been reported nearby on top of Marys Peak as vagrants.

We did have a one-day wonder Blue Jay visit her (and it was seen and photographed), but after it left we never heard BLJA calls 
again.  Maybe that was not enough exposure, even to the local STJA flock it showed up with.

So is there a threshold exposure level for Steller's Jays to pick up new sounds in their environment and adopt them?   I say use 
them because all these imitations seem to be calls from raptors (RSHA, RTHA) or other corvids (CLNU, BLJA) that might raise alarm or 
attention from passerines.  Someone out there maybe knows why jays often announce themselves.

And maybe some jays feel a need to have their own unique ring tone.
Jim Fairchild


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Dossett" <phainopepla at yahoo.com>
To: "OBOL" <obol at oregonbirdwatch.org>; "Corvallis birds" <list at midvalleybirding.org>
Sent: Friday, October 23, 2009 10:34 AM
Subject: [obol] Steller's Jay imitating Blue Jay


| Hi everyone,
|
| This morning while eating breakfast I was startled by the sound of a Blue Jay calling from the spruce tree off the deck where I 
have sunflower seeds sprinkled.  It called a few times and then started doing an imitation of a Red-shouldered Hawk a few times 
before it stopped calling.  I looked around but all I could find were Steller's Jays chowing down on the seed.  About 10 minutes 
later I heard what I assume to be the same bird giving a very clear Blue Jay call.  Finally, a Steller's Jay landed on the deck rail 
and opened its bill and gave a perfect imitation of a Blue Jay.
|
| I've never seen this before, though I suppose I shouldn't be totally surprised.  I wonder just where this bird came in contact 
with Blue Jays to learn this call.  The thought crossed my mind that it could be a Steller's Jay from further east that has moved 
into this area but it was still quite dark out (~7:20) so I couldn't get really great looks at plumage details.
|
| I guess now whenever I hear a Blue Jay I should be sure to get visual confirmation of the ID.  Has anyone else experienced this?
|
| Michael
|
|
| Michael Dossett
| Corvallis, Oregon
| www.Mdossettphoto.com
| phainopepla at yahoo.com
|
|
|
|
| _______________________________________________
| obol mailing list
| obol at oregonbirdwatch.org
| http://oregonbirdwatch.org/mailman/listinfo/obol
|