Good morning! I had a Stellar Jay in my chipmunk/bird feeder just a few minutes ago. They have a real cool paint job. Black head and a beautiful blue body.
I may post a photo later today here.
bump
VERY cool! In addition to their stunning good looks, Stellar’s Jays (and Scrub Jays, too) are birds of great personality, and they will befriend you to the point of eating right from your hand.
My grandfather used to go out on his back porch at the same time, every evening, and just sit, and relax. He would take peanuts with him, and shell them, and eat them as he sat thinking. A jay that lived nearby naturally took interest in his peanuts, and he tossed a few to it. Over a period of days the bird was coaxed closer, and closer to him, until it was, at last, taking the peanuts right from his fingers.
That was in Orange, CA, and the birds don’t migrate away from that area, so he had that jay around for a couple of years. It even got to where the bird’s mate would come over to him, too. So, every evening he’d be out back with his peanuts and his jaybirds. It was just the coolest thing.