White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1919-01-12
Birds We Should Know
BLUE JAY

quainted with the chickadee. The
reader who did wander that far
found the little worker and perhaps
before the bird sought for appeared,
dozens of rather large and noisy
birds flew among the trees scream
ing as though to warn the inhab-
itants of the intrusion. These lusty
voiced fellows were the jays.
In introducing the blue Jay or
camp %robber", as he is sometimes
called, n must be warned before
hand that this fellow has for many
years been branded with a bad char
acter. Many people would not care
to know him after hearing that he
has been accused of eating the eggs
OF other birds as well as the young
nestlings. II has been proven that
the jay does sometimes eat eggs; but
do not start to throw stones; we are
also egg eaters. Never having seen
a Jay kill OF a a young bird, the
writer refuses 10 ccuse him and
will take the chance of recommend
ing him as a feathered friend.
Here Is another member of the
bird family who will attract atten-
ton first by sound, but will not be
a disappointment in attractive plum
age. Seldom are they seen alone,
yet they are quite tame and it is
easy TO get a good look at them. The
coioring of the family found in this
mountainous country is different
from that of the eastern jay, the blue
OF the native bird being a much deep
err shade. The jay found here is
about the size OF a robin and in color
is a deep blue, shading under certain
lights TO a blue-green, like the ce-
dars, while the under part of the
body Is a dusky white. Wings and
tail display markings in black and a
feathered crest adorns the head.
This rogue of the woods is not by
any a vocalist, his rasping cry
OF "Yea-yea. nay-nay'' shrieked at
the invader is often startling, COM
ing suddenly from amidst the quiet
OF the trees. His yea" aud nay IL
ind. cative OF his character, positive
and negative: for the good he does
he is liked, for the evil registered
against him he is disliked. This cry
when heard by the animals and birds
of the forest may be the welcome
alarm which warns them 10 places of
safety, and yet, II one listens close
ly to the call. it would seem that
sentinel jay Is really trying TO fool
yea" Is shrieked out in alarm and
then follows the "ney-ney' uttered In
rather a drawing and soothing man
ner which would give the impression
that the bird attempted TO first give
an alarm and then treasured the
nervous listeners by saying II was
false. With a little imagination one
can seem to e frightened chip
hunks and rabbits scurrying into
cover and out again and finally be-
coming Disguised as they realize II
is the mischievious Jay having fun
at their expense. Many hunters
blame the jay for warning even the
large game. II this is the case, then
he is entitled to credit which would
offset his bad habit OF eating a few
eggs.
The food of the eastern jay is
composed largely OF acorns which he
gathers and stores In the ground,
planting them carefully and then
going away and forgetting where
they are hidden. Thus he is a tree
planter and has earned the badge
of the forester. Native jays have
the same Characteristic. The planting
done here is the fruit of the pinion,
the pine-nut. Years ago this tree
formed a bountiful orchard for the
Indian, who depended on the meal
pounded from the nut as, the staff
OF life. and today the people of this
section of the country find pleasure
in gathering these nuts, as we'll rs a
very palatable article of food. Red
cedars are planted by the birds. who
find in the bitter blue berries a tasty
article of food during the long winter
months when the insects which form
the summer diet are not to be found.
"Camb robber" is a name given
the jay In this country. and there is
no doubt as to his right TO the title,
for he will not hesitate to carry away
small pieces of food or any little
bright object which might be left
lying around. He is not a sneak
thief, however. as his cry will always
warn the camper of his approach
and the wise man will protect his
food before leaving camp, thus saw
- IA -.-I.... o.. Jt..tz. 49, a