Buford
by Wild Thing
Title
Buford
Artist
Wild Thing
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
As a little girl, I remember seeing blue jays all the time ... now, it's a rare treat to see one. I'm not sure why the scarcity of them, other than they are rather bullies to the other birds. But as to why they seem to be less in population lately is beyond my knowledge.
The blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is a passerine bird in the family Corvidae, native to North America. It is resident through most of eastern and central United States, although western populations may be migratory. Resident populations are also found in Newfoundland, Canada, while breeding populations can be found in southern Canada. It breeds in both deciduous and coniferous forests, and is common near and in residential areas. It is predominantly blue with a white chest and underparts, and a blue crest. It has a black, U-shaped collar around its neck and a black border behind the crest. Sexes are similar in size and plumage, and plumage does not vary throughout the year. Four subspecies of the blue jay are recognized.
The blue jay mainly feeds on nuts and seeds such as acorns, soft fruits, arthropods, and occasionally small vertebrates. It typically gleans food from trees, shrubs, and the ground, though it sometimes hawks insects from the air. Like squirrels, blue jays are known to hide nuts for later consumption. It builds an open cup nest in the branches of a tree, which both sexes participate in constructing. The clutch can contain two to seven eggs, which are blueish or light brown with brown spots. Young are altricial, and are brooded by the female for 8–12 days after hatching. They may remain with their parents for one to two months.
The bird's name derives from its noisy, garrulous nature. It is sometimes called a "jaybird".
Cultural depiction and interpretation
In old African American folklore of the southern United States, the blue jay was held to be a servant of the Devil, and "was not encountered on a Friday as he was fetching sticks down to Hell; furthermore, he was so happy and chirpy on a Saturday as he was relieved to return from Hell".
The blue jay was adopted as the team symbol of the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball team, as well as some of their minor league affiliates. Their mascot is Ace, also a blue jay.
The blue jay is featured in Mark Twain's "A Tramp Abroad", Chapter 3 "Baker's Blue-Jay Yarn". The blue jay is also the official mascot for Johns Hopkins University.
One of the main protagonists of the Cartoon Network show Regular Show is an anthropomorphic blue jay named Mordecai.
Uploaded
October 17th, 2017
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Viewed 473 Times - Last Visitor from Fairfield, CT on 04/17/2024 at 10:29 AM
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Comments (2)
Jeannie Rhode
Wild Thing, Sharing my Congratulations on your Feature in Wisconsin Flowers And Scenery !
Randy Rosenberger
This piece of fine artwork has earned the honor of being chosen to show off to other artists and prospective buyers here in the Wisconsin Flowers and Scenery group. It is an honor to share this piece of well composed and beautiful art on our Featured section of our homepage. Thanks much for sharing! Liked and Faved Randy B. Rosenberger (administrator of the WFS group)
Wild Thing replied:
Thank you so very much for this honored placement! I am humbled by this special showing on the home page! WT ;)))