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Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper February 2017 Page 33
Christine Maccabee are simply intimidated by the Courtesy Image
blue jay’s large size. I have
On The Wild Side never seen a blue jay bully thrush, mockingbirds, catbirds, and
my smaller birds, although cedar waxwings, along with others,
Blue Jays in the Holly some animals—as well as I am sure. Developing habitat for
some human beings—seem wild birds and bees and insects of all
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. to exhibit inbred, bullying sorts requires appropriate and diverse
— William Shakespeare tendencies. vegetation. So, I must thank my blue
jays on the holly outside my window
Many years ago, I found a holly blue jay scouts had found a holly tree, After the disappointment for spurring me on to a better
tree that was half-dead in a pot at there were no berries on it because it expressed by my two jays in the wildlife management plan. Seeds in
a nursery. They were closing up for is a male. holly tree, I decided I need more my feeder and suet are not the only
the winter, so were only too happy hollies, female ones this time, ways I can help my kin.
to sell the holly to me at half the Some people do not like blue to get berries for all my birds.
price. Thrilled, I brought it home and jays, especially not when they come I already have dogwoods on I do not care as much about the
planted it with great care on one side to feast at their bird feeders. Jays my land, but not nearly enough ornamental qualities of hollies and
of my house. Over the years, it grew have gained an unfair reputation as native elder, cherry, crab apple, dogwoods, but more about their
nearly as high as the roof. bullies, even bandits, due to the mask or holly. Red cedar is a good tree for usefulness for wildlife. After all, what
patterns around their eyes and an wild fruit, but is known to create would this world be like without
Several years ago, my holly got occasional nest robbery. In fact, blue disease in your orchard trees if it is the voices of the birds, the buzzing
a disease and was obviously dying, jays are related to crows and ravens, within one mile of them. However, on of the bees (all wild fruiting trees
so with great sorrow, I decided to which are known to be carnivorous, Cape Cod, a birder counted 20,000 get flowers first), the astounding
have it cut down. However, I noticed but rarely eating the eggs of other migrating robins in a cedar tree grove, colors of flowers, and the voice of
a shoot coming up one side of birds. J.J. Audubon called his eating their fill until finally leaving to the wind through the trees, even my
the stump and decided to give it a drawing of blue jays “Crested go further south, so cedar is a great poor little male holly tree; perhaps it
chance. Now I have a lovely young Crows,” which is a translation from habitat in the right places. will be thrilled to have a few females
tree, about ten feet tall. As you can the Latin. They will even eat your around!
see, I do not give up easily on living cat’s food and pluck out the eyes But, I digress…now back to the
things. of dead animals. Some people call holly. I emailed a naturalist friend,
them “winged vagabonds.” Call who has a stand of female holly
Just last month, while sitting at them what you like; I think they are trees. Before winter is out, I will be
my computer, I heard a commotion beautiful. rooting as many cuttings from his
outside my window. It was a fluttering hollies as I am able, so, in time, I will
of wings, but mostly some loud According to naturalist Calvin have plenty of wild fruit to help my
screeching or calling. Looking out, I Simonds, the blue jay’s reputation as frugivore-feathered friends through
saw two blue jays, one of which was a nest robber is “much overstated,” the winter. So, what’s a frugivore,
a juvenile. The older, larger adult was as they prefer nuts, acorns, seeds, you ask?
broadcasting a message out to the and small fruits.1 In fact, the blue jay
rest of his clan, I suppose, saying “No is actually a tropical bird, which has In my research, I learned that
berries on this holly.” I have learned expanded its range through North some birds are frugivores, or fruit
that birds have specific calls or songs America, as far north as Maine. lovers. Besides blue jays, other
for specific purposes, the truth of Talk about adaptation of a species! frugivores are robins, bluebirds,
which reveals their amazing innate I admire the blue jay for its pluck.
intelligence (which some call instinct). As for the “bully at the bird feeder” Christine is a Master Wildlife Habitat Naturalist in the state of Maryland. She is
Indeed, sadly, even though those two accusation, I believe smaller birds also a member of the Green Team in Thurmont. She would be glad to help you
with habitat on your property and can be reached at [email protected].
1 Private Lives of Garden Birds by Collin Simonds, a great read.
Christine Maccabee are simply intimidated by the Courtesy Image
blue jay’s large size. I have
On The Wild Side never seen a blue jay bully thrush, mockingbirds, catbirds, and
my smaller birds, although cedar waxwings, along with others,
Blue Jays in the Holly some animals—as well as I am sure. Developing habitat for
some human beings—seem wild birds and bees and insects of all
One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. to exhibit inbred, bullying sorts requires appropriate and diverse
— William Shakespeare tendencies. vegetation. So, I must thank my blue
jays on the holly outside my window
Many years ago, I found a holly blue jay scouts had found a holly tree, After the disappointment for spurring me on to a better
tree that was half-dead in a pot at there were no berries on it because it expressed by my two jays in the wildlife management plan. Seeds in
a nursery. They were closing up for is a male. holly tree, I decided I need more my feeder and suet are not the only
the winter, so were only too happy hollies, female ones this time, ways I can help my kin.
to sell the holly to me at half the Some people do not like blue to get berries for all my birds.
price. Thrilled, I brought it home and jays, especially not when they come I already have dogwoods on I do not care as much about the
planted it with great care on one side to feast at their bird feeders. Jays my land, but not nearly enough ornamental qualities of hollies and
of my house. Over the years, it grew have gained an unfair reputation as native elder, cherry, crab apple, dogwoods, but more about their
nearly as high as the roof. bullies, even bandits, due to the mask or holly. Red cedar is a good tree for usefulness for wildlife. After all, what
patterns around their eyes and an wild fruit, but is known to create would this world be like without
Several years ago, my holly got occasional nest robbery. In fact, blue disease in your orchard trees if it is the voices of the birds, the buzzing
a disease and was obviously dying, jays are related to crows and ravens, within one mile of them. However, on of the bees (all wild fruiting trees
so with great sorrow, I decided to which are known to be carnivorous, Cape Cod, a birder counted 20,000 get flowers first), the astounding
have it cut down. However, I noticed but rarely eating the eggs of other migrating robins in a cedar tree grove, colors of flowers, and the voice of
a shoot coming up one side of birds. J.J. Audubon called his eating their fill until finally leaving to the wind through the trees, even my
the stump and decided to give it a drawing of blue jays “Crested go further south, so cedar is a great poor little male holly tree; perhaps it
chance. Now I have a lovely young Crows,” which is a translation from habitat in the right places. will be thrilled to have a few females
tree, about ten feet tall. As you can the Latin. They will even eat your around!
see, I do not give up easily on living cat’s food and pluck out the eyes But, I digress…now back to the
things. of dead animals. Some people call holly. I emailed a naturalist friend,
them “winged vagabonds.” Call who has a stand of female holly
Just last month, while sitting at them what you like; I think they are trees. Before winter is out, I will be
my computer, I heard a commotion beautiful. rooting as many cuttings from his
outside my window. It was a fluttering hollies as I am able, so, in time, I will
of wings, but mostly some loud According to naturalist Calvin have plenty of wild fruit to help my
screeching or calling. Looking out, I Simonds, the blue jay’s reputation as frugivore-feathered friends through
saw two blue jays, one of which was a nest robber is “much overstated,” the winter. So, what’s a frugivore,
a juvenile. The older, larger adult was as they prefer nuts, acorns, seeds, you ask?
broadcasting a message out to the and small fruits.1 In fact, the blue jay
rest of his clan, I suppose, saying “No is actually a tropical bird, which has In my research, I learned that
berries on this holly.” I have learned expanded its range through North some birds are frugivores, or fruit
that birds have specific calls or songs America, as far north as Maine. lovers. Besides blue jays, other
for specific purposes, the truth of Talk about adaptation of a species! frugivores are robins, bluebirds,
which reveals their amazing innate I admire the blue jay for its pluck.
intelligence (which some call instinct). As for the “bully at the bird feeder” Christine is a Master Wildlife Habitat Naturalist in the state of Maryland. She is
Indeed, sadly, even though those two accusation, I believe smaller birds also a member of the Green Team in Thurmont. She would be glad to help you
with habitat on your property and can be reached at [email protected].
1 Private Lives of Garden Birds by Collin Simonds, a great read.
