How Rude

Woa, Blue Jay being rude to Mr. Cardinal during the snow storm. That's why we have multiple feeders placed at several spots around our property. Mr. Cardinal went to another feeder that was minus Blue Jays. There is inter- and intra-species aggression at feeders, especially when there is severe weather and more birds depend on the feeders. It's serious business for them.

Blue Jays are a mixed bag. We think they're quite handsome, but yes, they can drive other birds away from feeders, although not all the time. On the plus side, Blue Jays are some of the first to warn of a Sharp-shinned Hawk approaching, which benefits other species of feeder birds.

About strange things Blue Jays do:

- I just heard a Blue Jay giving a Broad-winged Hawk call as it approached the feeders. I know it was no Broad-winged Hawk, as any Broadwing in it's right mind is still in South American right now. We have heard jays do this many times, not just imitating Broad-winged Hawk calls, but the calls of other hawks as well.

- Blue Jays are eating paint off of our house. Every time I try and get a photo of it, they fly away. Yes, that is very strange, but we have heard of this before, a long time ago in Massachusetts when we lived there. Have you every heard of this?