Bird of the Week – Gray Jay
This is likely the North American bird with the most nicknames: Camp Robber, Whiskey Jack, Canada Jay, lumberjack, meat-bird, venison-hawk, moose-bird and gorby.
Gray Jay, Chena Hot Springs Road, Alaska
A signature bird of the Boreal Forest, the Gray Jay is also one of the species that most easily habituates to people. It has a huge repertoire of vocalizations, including the soft “cheo” and “chef chef chef” that are mostly commonly heard in the woods. A master of caching food, it’s a species that succeeds and prospers through the long subarctic winter.
Camera geek stuff: f5.7, 1/1600, ISO 200
For more bird photos, please visit Frozen Feather Images.
I believe my first and onliest experience with whiskey jacks came from reading Jim Kjelgaard’s Snow Dog book in 1964-5 or 6 in junior high school.
Wow, juneaudream, what a tale! Wow, WC, what a photo!
and indeed..it is a master of both..cacheing items, plus..’prodding’ our camp site family..to bring out the snacks. Youngest son..who is in camp..as we speak..called to say that of 3 of them (camp robbers)..a hawk flew by..and helped itself..to one! The remaining two..flew to cover, and raised a screaming alarm. In a dozen years..this was a first for him..so..called us..to inform.