Blue Jay range expansion - Go west blue bird
Updated: Jun 5, 2023
Blue Jays are common in the eastern states, but since the 1970s, they have been terrorizing peanut feeders across the western states.
Stories are frequently told, from seasoned birders, of the first sightings of Blue Jays in the western United States. Birders who have been counting birds for 50 years or more can tell you the exact date the first "backyard bully" showed up at their local feeders, town, park, etc. At the time, they likely did not know that Blue Jays would become a common sight within 30 years.
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The Peanut Bandit aka the Blue Jay
The Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata, is a member of the Corvid family. The Corvid family includes crows, ravens, and the rest of the jays. Adaptability and intelligence are synonymous with this family, so it should come as no surprise to birders that the Blue Jay would expand their range by hopping from municipality to municipality (and using major riparian corridors as green interstates).
The map below shows the current range of the Blue Jay, according to the most recent data publicly available. While Blue Jays are residents throughout much of their range, there is a significant movement of the population that occurs throughout the year. You can see these movements on eBird, and it creates a spectacular short video.
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What is the best Blue Jay feeder? A peanut wreath! Make your friendly neighborhood Blue Jays work for their food.
Blue Jay Range Map
Blue Jays have expanded their year-round range to the westernmost extent of the Great Plains and are beginning to appear more regularly across the Rocky Mountains and Continental Divide.
Blue Jay Sightings Increase in the West
Blue Jays have been recorded many times in the western states before 1970. However, the upward trend really began its upward movement in 1972 and exploded in the winter of 1976. Is this shift in sightings a result of more birders, more surveys, or something else? We may never know, but we can assume haphazardly. Maybe we can blame Russian Olives? Or peanut feeders? You can come up with your own outrageous conspiracy theory if you would like.
Of course, you must fill your peanut wreath with unsalted peanuts!
Want a smaller bag? Check out this 2 lb bag from an eco-farm!
Christmas Bird Count Data Trends for Blue Jays
The Audubon Christmas Bird Count is a great opportunity to learn how the population of a resident species, like the Blue Jay, is trending. From the graphic below, you can see that CBC data is showing a decrease in relative abundance for the southeastern states, while the western states, and western provinces of Canada, are showing increases in abundance. What causes the increase in some areas and the decrease in other areas? There are many factors that are beyond the scope of this post. (Some of those factors create political friction, so I'm just avoiding them. This is a fun place, and it will stay that way!)
Range Expansion of the Blue Jay since 1970
This short video shows how the frequency of Blue Jay reports increased from 1970 to 2019. This is based upon several datasets, including eBird.
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Credits/References
Fink, D., T. Auer, A. Johnston, M. Strimas-Mackey, M. Iliff, and S. Kelling. eBird Status and Trends. Version: November 2018. https://ebird.org/science/status-and-trends. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York.
K. Smith, Range Extension of the Blue Jay into Western North America. Bird Banding, 1978, Vol. 49, No. 3. https://bit.ly/2sxSG6O
Meehan, T.D., LeBaron, G.S., Dale, K., Michel, N.L., Verutes, G.M., and Langham, G.M. 2018. Abundance trends of birds wintering in the USA and Canada, from Audubon Christmas Bird Counts, 1966-2017, version 2.1. National Audubon Society, New York, New York, USA. (https://www.audubon.org/conservation/where-have-all-birds-gone)
