What’s going on with all the jays? Flocks of these daytime flying birds have been migrating as a significant number leave the province for the winter. This has been observed in particular along the north shore of the St. Lawrence River and the lower Great Lakes. The birds prefer to fly over land as they head south so many move west before crossing over into the US.
Nowhere is this more prevalent than in Essex County where staggering numbers can be seen. At Amherstburg, tens of thousands can appear on a single day and flocks of hundreds are common.
Of course not all Blue Jays leave Ontario. Some stick around, finding natural food like acorns where they can and supplementing their diet at your feeders where peanuts in the shell are preferred.
Happy Birding!
By Brian Morin
(Publisher of Ontario Birding News)
