FOUR STARTERS A Blue Jay eats peanuts from a backyard bird feeder in Monroe County .
Familiar sight . A large , unmistakable songbird , the Blue Jay is a familiar backyard visitor from the Rocky Mountains east . It has a perky crest ; blue , white , and black plumage ; and noisy calls .
Now that ’ s smart . Blue Jays are known for their intelligence and complex social systems with tight family bonds . Tool use has never been reported for wild Blue Jays , but captive Blue Jays used strips of newspaper to rake in food pellets from outside their cages .
More than a hanging feeder , a feeding tray , a hopper feeder or even a post will attract Blue Jays . They are fond of peanuts , sunflower seeds and suet . Their fondness for acorns is credited with helping spread oak trees after the last glacial period .
Source : All About Birds
14 � SOUTH � MARCH-APRIL ’ 24