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The prudent birds appear in camera view when no people are busy in the garden, or when the animals have been fed in the forest camera and there is no more moving around.

 

The jays became well visible in autumnal oak groves – a great amount of the winter stores are collected precisely there. The bird with the most eyecatching plumage among our corvids is jackdaw-sized, with pinkish-grey plumage. Length up to 35 centimetres and weight a little over 150 grams. Wing bend with blue-black-white ”national colours”. Hind part of the wings and tail feathers black. Similarly black patches at the base of the beak.

 

The crown feathers of an excited jay rise like a small crest – sometimes also seen in camera view. Flight image flapping, and the white rump catches the eye.

 

Winter abundance is estimated at over a hundred thousand individuals, but the winter bird count will provide a more accurate answer.

 

On the forest camera feeding ground the jays observe Mait’s doings – when the food for the animals has been poured out, six or more jays can be in place on some days. They gobble 5-6 acorns into the oesophagus, a final one is taken in the beak and then away. In the flight image of a “fully loaded” jay the centre of gravity can be seen to be in the front part of the bird’s body, and if something or somebody scares the bird most of the acorns are spilled out in flight …

 

Jay observations: LINK

 

Jay