It’s no secret that Facebook is rife with links to a lot of really dumb articles. Many of the links are either clickbait or gateways to completely useless drivel. I learned a long time ago to not even bother clicking on the links because they inevitably lead to disappointment.
But, I came across an article on Facebook the other day that I just had to click on. The headline for the post read, “Why You Should Avoid Inviting Blue Jays into Your Yard.” I know some people have issues with blue jays, but I had never seen an article devoted to keeping blue jays out of people’s backyards.
I’ve seen plenty of articles on how to keep squirrels, bears, house sparrows and grackles away from feeders, but never blue jays. Blue Jays are strikingly beautiful birds and native to the U.S.
Why would anyone want to keep blue jays away from feeders? I understand that blue jays are one of the many “bully birds” that can take over feeders and prevent smaller birds such as chickadees, titmice and nuthatches from getting a spot at the feeder. In my experience, however, blue jays do not harass other birds. They simply fly up to a feeder, grab a peanut or some seeds, and go on their way.
Grackles, on the other hand, will approach a feeder in great numbers and remain on the feeder for a long time, keeping other “desirable” birds on the sidelines waiting. I was curious to see how the linked article was going to suggest keeping blue jays away from feeders. Blue jays are agile and can per.