Evening star., 1949-02-28
This and That
BIZ Charles E. Trdce1GeH

WldC QOeS Dlue Jay 40 Will d pOCdVo:
Well, j. w. B. of First street NE. knows
because he saw jay handle one.
Here's the way he tells 1t:
"One day threw a cold boiled potato
into the yard. 1t broke into three pieces
"A jay, from his perch on the fence
watched with interest He few down into
the yard and looked at each piece as though
he were trying to decide what he should do.
In twinkle of an eye, he ate one piece.
After looking first at one and then the
other of the two remaining pieces he car
ried one to the side of the yard and covered
1t with leaf.
He cooked his head on the side, viewed
the landmarks to make sure he would re-
member this treasure spot. then fitted over
to the remaining piece. which he picked UP
and held in his beak as he few to big tree
on the next Street.
He had planned how to get the benefit of
all three pieces.
He had planned, as our correspondent
says, but alas! with men or birds. planning
is one thing, and fruition another
The best laid plans of mice and men
and blue jays-often go wrong, indeed.
Listen to the completion of the tale:
II was at the window the next evening
when the blue jay returned.
the place where he had secreted the piece
of potato. and leisurely picked up leaf and
laid it aside.
mo potato!
1T must be under the next leaf, he seemed
to say. and proceeded to look calmly under
several more leaves.
Then with increasing panic he threw
aside leaf after leaf until at last he had to
acknowledge to himself that the tantalizing
morsel of potato really was not there.
With an air of wonderment and defeat,
he flew slowly to the big tree on the next
street."
This is a good picture Of beautiful inter-
esting and splendid American
His good colors, bold look, friendly actions
and truly American ways finally endear him
to all honest friends of birds.
Let it be whispered that not all their ad
mrers are honest, by any means.
Some have lines to follow.
Some have swallowed old lies, so that they
are unable to look at jay properly.
But those who are willing to use their own
eyes, and to believe what they see, will see
that this is fine fellow in feathers.
Despite his loud squawks, he is extremely
friendly.
Even in summer, at nesting time, when
occasionally he will fly at one, he is never
vindictive.
He adds immensely to the winter land
>scape, too.
in the cold, there is nothing more pleas
ing at first light than his bold outline against
the snow.
Usually he goes with his mate and three
or four of the children of last summer s
nestings.
This family relationship is pleasant to
behold. There is no fighting, but good
comradely association for mutual benefit.
Jays are not greedy. They like to hide
food, trait they share with their Canadian
cousins, the whisky jacks. so-called.
Our jays seldom hide bright objects, but
do so now and then. The food they hide is
often found by other creatures, so nothing
is lost.
1t may be supposed that whenever bird
or squirrel hides food many other bright
eyes watch the proceedings.
The jay, for all his dash and his alleged
thieving of eggs and occasionally a nes-
Ting, not only hides food for other birds to
find, but always warns them first of an
animla marauder.
His shrieks then alarm the countryside,
enabling smaller and more timid birds to
take cover.
In this way, many songbirds annually are
saved from hawks and animals.