Eastern jays heading this way

Call us, please, if you spot this bird: an eastern blue jay.

OK, so why the heck would anybody feature a bird familiar to folks back East but not here in Yakima? This is the real blue jay, a handsome and raucous backyard bird for most folks in the United States and Canada living east of the Rocky Mountains.

However, it occurs in well-treed river valleys and suburban yards right up to the base of the Rockies. As these shade trees mature in yards all across its huge range, habitat for this species increases — and so do its numbers. With the blue jays’ westward spread, they have become common in such Canadian cities as Calgary and Edmonton, and have recently colonized valleys in western Montana. Likely, they will eventually reach Washington.

At present, we look for blue jays here beginning in October and through March. In September and October, some of them wander west, crossing the Canadian Rocky Mountains and following valley bottoms along major rivers, such as the Columbia.

Some end up in Yakima. Most seem to keep on going west and south, but a really sumptuous buffet at your feeder may tempt this bird to stay the winter.

An eastern blue jay spotted at Fort Simcoe in 2005. (Photo courtesy of Denny Granstrand)

WHERE AND WHEN: Look for this bird beginning in October — in your yard, if you have the right kind of food. Apart from well-treed yards with feeders, blue jays seek areas of garry oaks at the east base of the Cascades, because these trees provide acorns, a delicacy to the jay. Nearby sites where this oak has hosted the blue jay include Fort Simcoe, the Oak Creek Wildlife Area and Tampico.

HOW TO SPOT ONE: This medium-sized bird is easy to spot at a feeder, with its jaunty crest, attired in sky-blues and white with splotches of black. It is much more brightly patterned than the Steller’s jay, its western relative, which is dressed in darkish purple and black. It is also a loud bird, frequently calling raucously “Jaay! Jaay! Jaay!” along with an assortment of other chuckles and gurgling calls. It can also expertly mimic certain hawks.

CHOW TIME: Blue jays love sunflower seeds, acorns, peanuts and suet. If you have any of these items at your feeder, there is a chance you might tempt this bird to linger in your yard as it drifts westward from its normal haunts. While nesting in spring and summer, they are expert at finding other birds’ nests and stealing eggs from these to feed their own hungry young.

SOCIAL LIFE: You are not likely to spot more than one blue jay in the Yakima area. If one stays in your yard through the winter, it will likely depart in March or April and head back to its more familiar haunts east of the Rockies to nest. Once on their nesting grounds, jays become much more quiet and furtive, quite unlike the loud and boisterous behavior they exhibit here.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE ONE: If a blue jay shows up in your yard and you’re willing to allow bird watchers to come and view this rare visitor, please call the Yakima Valley Audubon Society (248-1963) and leave a message. These birders will be most appreciative!

• Wildlife Moment, focusing on native wildlife, typically runs in Outdoors on the first Tuesday of every month, with the cooperation of the Yakima Valley Audubon Society.