During about three-fourths of the year the American Jay is an extremely
tame, noisy and even obstrusive bird in its habits. As the breeding
season approaches he suddenly becomes silent, preparing the nest in
the most secluded parts of his native forests, and exercising all his
cunning to keep it concealed. He is omniverous but is especially fond
of eggs and young birds. The Jay may be regarded as eminently injurious
though in spring he consumes a number of insects to atone for his sins
of stealing fruit and berries in autumn. He is a professional nest
robber, and other birds are as watchful of him as is a mother of her
babe. He glides through the foliage of the trees so swiftly and
noiselessly that his presence is scarcely suspected until he has
committed some depredation. The Robin is his most wary foe, and when
the Jay is found near his nest will pursue him and drive him from the
neighborhood. He is as brave as he is active, however, and dashes boldly
in pursuit of his more plainly attired neighbors who venture to intrude
upon his domain.
The Jay has a curious antipathy toward the owl, perching on trees
above it and keeping up a continual screeching. Some years ago an Ohio
gentleman was presented with a magnificent specimen of the horned owl,
which he kept for a time in a large tin cage. In favorable weather the
cage was set out of doors, when it would soon be surrounded by Jays,
much in the manner described of the Toucan, and an incessant screeching
followed, to which the owl appeared indifferent. They would venture
near enough to steal a portion of his food, the bars of his cage being
sufficiently wide apart to admit them. On one occasion, however, he
caught the tail of a Jay in his claws and left the tormentor without
his proud appendage.
The Jay remains with us throughout the year. He is one of the wildest
of our birds, the shyest of man, although seeing him most. He makes no
regular migrations at certain seasons, but, unless disturbed, will live
out his life close to his favorite haunts. His wings show him to be
unfitted for extended flight.
Jays are most easily discovered in the morning about sunrise on the tops
of young live oaks. Their notes are varied. Later in the day it is more
difficult to find them, as they are more silent, and not so much on the
tree tops as among the bushes.
The Jays breed in woods, forests, orchards, preferring old and very
shady trees, placing their nests in the center against the body, or at
the bifurcation of large limbs. The nest is formed of twigs and roots;
the eggs are from four to six.