Pie Pans help to Redirect Bluejays

[JamesWithers]

Blue Jays are territorial birds, so if they set up house in your backyard, they will begin to attack you when you walk outside. How can you protect yourself and protect the birds at the same time? I found out after an eventful experience. I wrote an article about it here:

Seeing Our World from a Different Perspective: The Emotional Life of Blue Jays - Associated Content

Any tips on how to best help a bird with a wounded wing?

[BobbieSD]

Hmmm-I feed mine peanuts and they are very happy and have never been aggressive. They hollar until I hear them, or fly into a tree/bush in front of me so I see them....and know they are ready to be fed. I can even whistle or call for them (They are all named Jack)and they fly in awaiting their peanuts on days I am delayed.

[Wilder]

Originally Posted by BobbieSD

Hmmm-I feed mine peanuts and they are very happy and have never been aggressive. They hollar until I hear them, or fly into a tree/bush in front of me so I see them....

I have a pair of jays that come for their peanuts regularly. They'll sit on the fence and one of them will call out, and then they will wait patiently until I toss the nuts to them. Never an issue here of them attacking.

Of course, we did have another jay up at the old house that did wonders for keeping the grackles and starlings away from the bird feeders. He would sit in the tree or on the garage roof and chase the offending birds away. Strangely, he didn't care about the finches or cardinals or other such birds you do want at your feeder. He never did bother us or our pets though.

[JamesWithers]

I appreciate you guys messaging back. My conclusions may have been based on my own experience, as well as popular attitudes about Jays. You guys sound like very friendly folks, rather more experienced with birds than most. I'd like to gain that ability to better commune with them.

[Buteo]

Nicely written and I mean no offense, but it's not entirely accurate.

From experience, I know that depending on the time in the reproductive cycle, the pie plate trick may not work - and with some individual birds the trick doesn't work at all (I've seen a pair of Eastern King birds totally ignore metal flasher strips.)
Blue jays are related to crows & ravens. They are one of the above average intelligent species of avians & can be very aggressive during nesting.

I believe it's not seeing it's own reflection, but more the metallic flashing, relative size, unnatural movements & it's seemingly "invulnerable persistence" that makes a pie plate or metal strip reflectors so unnerving to the birds.
Remember, Jays must regularly scare or fight off the attentions of both other mated pairs of jays and other species of birds to retain their chosen nesting sites.

The closer the female is to laying, the more defensive they will be about a particular site. If the female hasn't laid her eggs yet, the pair will abandon any site compromised by what they perceive to be potential predators.
If the female has already laid her eggs, Blue jay parents can become nearly fearless; Attacking their larger relatives (crows & ravens), as well as Eagles, Hawks & Falcons. I've even seen them even take on Cats & Raccoons to protect their mate & offspring.
It's hilarious seeing a 3oz bird knock a 30lb 'Coon off a branch. (I'm sure it came as a big surprise to the Coon too. )


About the wing injury....
Is the injury on one of the wild birds?
Can you describe what you've seen?
How is the bird carrying the wing - can it tuck the wing in- or is it just dragging it?

[JamesWithers]

Once again, thanks for so much information. I am really learning a great deal. And I appreciate the humor of a racoon being kamakazied by a blue jay.

As for the wing, its not a specific question exactly, more a general question about how to best handle a bird in such a situation. I've seen birds have troubles over the years, and I want to give them the help they need, but you have to be safe, too. It especially saddens me when you see a bird in the street that can't fly for some reason or another, as I've seen a few times over the years. In the middle of the traffic, I want to stop and help, but I don't quite know how to guide it along then, or how to safely pick it up. Any suggestions?

[ROYJOY]

LOL LOL LOL, putting shiny things in your yard just makes people laugh. its an urban myth. like banging horse shoes together, will attract snipes.

if i ever witness a man pointing a bb gun at a jay, i will disarm him and crack him on the head with said gun.

[BobbieSD]

Horseshoes don't attract snipes? No wonder I can't catch the little buggers.

[Buteo]

Here's a bunch of links that can give you some ideas of what to do if you come across a bird with an injured wing.

How To Care For An Injured/Orphaned Bird
The RSPB: Advice: Injured birds
How to treat a Wildlife Injury
BRC-FAQ
How to Care for an Injured Wild Bird That Cannot Fly - wikiHow


While I didn't mention about it in my first response, I cannot let the point go without comment:
I realize you're relatively young and looking for the best ways to handle some unusual situations, but you must understand what you described in your report is quite likely going to upset many people here. If I'd seen you pointing any weapon at a living creature, my first impulse would have been the same as ROYJOY. Seeing as how your parents were present though, I still would have immediately called the SPCA & the police.

I'm sure you realize now how potentially dangerous your actions were. A simple mis-aimed shot could have very easily killed that one Jay. (( If you were sad about the one Jay sitting on the fence when the other had flown off, think about how you would have felt when the remaining bird was looking at the body of it's mate if your shot had killed it.))

BTW - Using any type of gun in that manor does not demonstrate a safe working knowledge of firearms.
Accidents happen, so Never EVER point any weapon at a living target unless you're intending to kill it.
I suggest you Google "Non-powder firearms safety" for some more tips.