Why the blue jays were going crazy!

@TheHorse (238268)

Walnut Creek, California

July 1, 2019 1:12pm CST

I forgot to mention something interesting that happened the other day at the preschool. I was walking through the parking lot (break time) when I noticed two blue jays squawking frantically and encircling a certain point high in a large tree. At first I couldn't see what was there, but the object of their attention finally moved, and I was able to see that it was a predatory bird of some sort. The body was large, like that of an owl, but the face and beak looked more like those of a red tailed hawk. I stood and watched for literally five minutes. The blue jays would occasionally dive bomb the predator, sometimes pecking at his back. I decided it was a large owl of some sort, trying to get some sleep (they're nocturnal hunters, I believe). Finally, the owl got fed up and flew to another tree, about 60 yards away. The blue jays were not satisfied. They followed him over there and continued their racket. Then I had to get back to work. Unfortunately, the kids were sleeping and didn't get to see this little slice of nature. Have you watched smaller birds attack larger birds? I initially thought that the jays must have had a nest in that tree. But then why would they have followed him when he flew away to another tree a good distance away? (The picture is from the internet. I didn't have my camera with me that day.)

14 people like this

14 responses

@JohnRoberts (109841)

• Los Angeles, California

1 Jul 19

Blue jays can be vicious. They once attacked our cat.

3 people like this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

1 Jul 19

Do you know why they were mad at your car?

1 person likes this

@NJChicaa (127116)

• United States

1 Jul 19

Blue jays are pretty nervy

2 people like this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

1 Jul 19

They really are.

2 people like this

Vicki, #1 Creek Girl

@1creekgirl (44560)

• United States

1 Jul 19

There are bullies everywhere. We have an owl in the woods by our yard and he's forever looking for a date. He has a particular call for that. One night he actually had a date and the sounds were hilarious. We happened to be sitting in the shack and were at the right place at the right time.

1 person likes this

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Vicki, #1 Creek Girl

@1creekgirl (44560)

• United States

1 Jul 19

@TheHorse That's so funny. I guess it was the female at one point and she REALLY sounded seductive. Then later the sounds were much louder and shriller. I guess we do have a lot things in common with other animals! That's cute about Romeo and Juliet.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

1 Jul 19

@1creekgirl He was my buddy (he has since passed on to bird heaven), but he was also an abusive husband. He would pluck her feathers 'till her head was almost bare. Here's an ancient YouTube of him on my shoulder as I fingerpick my old Santa Cruz guitar. I should record the whole song (without his assistance).

Cockatiel Enjoys Children's Dance on Santa Cruz Guitar

www.youtube.com

Children's dance

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

1 Jul 19

Were the sounds lewd? When my friend's cockatiel, Romeo, would get all frisky for his "wife," Juliet, he would do this little dance and make sounds that were so obviously (to my human ears) lewd and suggestive.

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@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Jul 19

The little birds here can be very cheeky sometimes, biting off much more than they can chew, so to speak.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

2 Jul 19

The owl appeared just to want his rest. (Before eating their babies, later in the evening.)

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

2 Jul 19

@TheHorse Oh no! Too much information.

@Hannihar (130150)

• Israel

2 Jul 19

@TheHorse I have not seen other birds attack another bird but have seen a bird fly close to a person once and do not understand why.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

3 Jul 19

My best bet would be that the person came near its nest without knowing it.

1 person likes this

@Hannihar (130150)

• Israel

4 Jul 19

@TheHorse Thanks for explaining that.

@cperry2 (5608)

• Newport, Oregon

1 Jul 19

You are correct that is an owl, I think it is a barred owl based on the stripes. And it would be a predator to the Jays if it found their nest at night. Most often though they eat mice and such. I've seen crows and gulls attack eagles, near where I live. And I've seen smaller birds go after hawks. And once saw a scene very similar to the one you are describing, only it was crows vs a great horned owlet. (meaning a very young owl) I've also seen jays robbing a nest of another bird, taking the chicks. Its a very violent world out there in the wild.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

1 Jul 19

I think my friend "busted" some jays stealing dove eggs from the next near her house last year. The picture with my post is from the internet, but it's the closest I could find to the owl I saw the other day.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

2 Jul 19

@cperry2 I have a lot too. Nope, I don't have them organized well.

@cperry2 (5608)

• Newport, Oregon

1 Jul 19

@TheHorse Got you. When i need to come up with a photo fast I will do the same. Even though I probably have over fifteen thousand photos here on my computer. I don't have them stored in a way I can do an easy search to pull what I need.

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@scarlet_woman (23463)

• United States

2 Jul 19

the blue jays up here will attack ANYTHING that pisses them off. i've seen them going after cars.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

3 Jul 19

We have a Lot this year. Sometimes they visit my balcony and eyeball my "garden." I enjoy watching their antics.

1 person likes this

@DWDavis (25797)

• United States

2 Jul 19

Hudson the Hawk is constantly being harassed by smaller birds if he flies to close to the trees they are nesting or perching in.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

2 Jul 19

Poor Hudson. I'm rooting for the raptor.

1 person likes this

@wolfgirl569 (135583)

• Marion, Ohio

1 Jul 19

I have seen them bother the hawks here.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

2 Jul 19

I'm not surprised. They're bold, like raccoons.

1 person likes this

crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39503)

• United States

1 Jul 19

blue jays'n mockin' birds 're prone to that sort'a behavior. they might've a nest near the original tree, but the young'uns could be fledgin''n they wish fer their safety. hence the continuin' attack when the owl moved. that're they're more like humans 'n folks'd like to think'n jest 've cranky days where's they'll take their frustrations out'n whome'er/whate'er they can get by with.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

2 Jul 19

Heh. I wouldn't mess with a hungry or tired and cranky owl if I had little babies nearby. But I'm sure they were doing what their birdie instincts told them to do.

1 person likes this

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (323168)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

1 Jul 19

I guess blue jays like to make a fuss at certain birds of prey. I'm sure it was interesting to watch them. I feel sorry for the owl who was only trying to sleep.

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

1 Jul 19

That was my thought too. Maybe he had eaten their eggs as a bedtime snack.

1 person likes this

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (323168)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

1 Jul 19

@TheHorse Could be.

@spiderdust (14756)

• San Jose, California

1 Jul 19

Blue jays? Or stellar jays? I didn't think we had blue jays on this coast.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

1 Jul 19

I think that they're actually stellar jays. But they males are a striking blue. I think we use both terms for the same bird in California. But I'm not sure.

1 person likes this

@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

1 Jul 19

Blue Jays can be very aggressive. I have been chased before. *Visual* !

I have seen them chase every bird out of my yard before, both small and large! But never an owl. If I had an owl I am sure he would have been chased as well.

1 person likes this

@TheHorse (238268)

• Walnut Creek, California

2 Jul 19

Blue jays are something else.

@DocAndersen (54399)

• United States

23 Aug 19

Blue Jays are very nasty birds. Luckily they don't often chase humans!