Blue Jays and Peanuts

I have been feeding the birds using my deck feeder. I started out with black oil sunflower seeds for the Cardinals. They are beautiful birds. Then I added a few unsalted peanuts to attract the Blue Jays. Their favorite food. It worked. They are much bigger birds than the cardinal and more aggressive. So, I alternate with the peanuts so they don’t take over the feeder. The cardinals are intimidated by their size and the loud hawk-like sound they make. Cardinals are also known to eat peanuts, but the ones at my feeder only eat the sunflower seeds.

I wondered what they did with the peanuts. The Blue Jays will get one, sometime two whole peanuts in their mouths and fly away to crack it open to eat. The weather is surprisingly mild today. We have snow coming tomorrow. So I ventured out and found one spot they have been using. Under my magnolia tree. Too funny. They left the evidence behind.

Blue Jays on deck feeder

Captured this cool shot of two beautiful Blue Jays on deck feeder with a peanut in his mouth through my glass doors!

©CarolDM 2018 Copyrighted Photo

lacho59 says:

January 12, 2018 at 11:15 pm

I have a great color of plumage.

1
- Carol DM says:
  
  January 12, 2018 at 11:29 pm
  
  They are so much more beautiful in person. This was taken from inside.
Pamela Moresby says:

January 13, 2018 at 5:39 am

How gorgeous we don’t have them in NZ

1
- Carol DM says:
  
  January 13, 2018 at 7:47 pm
  
  They are so much prettier in person, and only in North America.
ellie925 says:

January 14, 2018 at 2:20 am

Aw, they are so adorable! I love the cute crest (I’m not sure if that’s the right word) on their heads!
- ellie925 says:
  
  January 14, 2018 at 2:25 am
  
  Amazingcapture, Carol!

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Shells left by Birds

Funny, I found one stockpile of shelled peanuts under my magnolia tree. The Blue Jays have large beaks to crack open the peanuts.

Kim_Johnson says:

January 12, 2018 at 2:45 pm

lol, this is cute. Great place for a blue jay picnic.

1
- Carol DM says:
  
  January 12, 2018 at 6:53 pm
  
  I know, it’s a silly photo but I got a laugh!
  
  1
Albert Herdianto Widjojo says:

January 12, 2018 at 9:55 pm

They left the evidence behind. Although such evidence is not required by the police.

1
- Carol DM says:
  
  January 12, 2018 at 11:28 pm
  
  Funny. 🙂 I was so curious where they were going with the whole peanut.
  
  1
  - Albert Herdianto Widjojo says:
    
    January 13, 2018 at 12:36 am
    
    And they know the most appropriate place!
lacho59 says:

January 12, 2018 at 11:16 pm

Do not clean the garbage. Hahaha

1
- Carol DM says:
  
  January 12, 2018 at 11:29 pm
  
  They are messy birds, but at least they got off the deck.

Evidence: Cracked Peanuts

These cracked peanut shells were left behind by the Blue Jays. You can see how they meticulously use their beaks to get the peanuts out.

Carol DM says:

January 12, 2018 at 7:52 pm

The birds left their peanut evidence behind. 🙂
Albert Herdianto Widjojo says:

January 12, 2018 at 10:00 pm

We are able to split the nut shells, they are able to split or hollow it!

1
- Carol DM says:
  
  January 12, 2018 at 11:28 pm
  
  I know, their long beaks and tongue.
  
  1
  - Albert Herdianto Widjojo says:
    
    January 13, 2018 at 12:34 am
    
    Yeah! They are amazing!
lacho59 says:

January 12, 2018 at 11:18 pm

Stunning craftsmen are picking nuts from the forts

1
- Carol DM says:
  
  January 12, 2018 at 11:27 pm
  
  Yes they use their beaks and tongue to get the peanut.

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19 Comments

Another lovely shot of the Blue Jays. I have never seen them eat, let alone eat peanuts!

Wonderful post! I find blue jays cuter than the Eurasian jays (I find the latter quite intimidating, although they are beautiful too), but after I read your post, I guess that they have a similar character.

Carol DM says:

January 14, 2018 at 8:27 pm

Not familiar with Eurasian ays but these are very aggressive. And the color is stunning. Thanks!

1

Nice post! Nice pictures!

Carol DM says:

January 14, 2018 at 8:26 pm

Thank you so much Georgi.

Great post and birds leave shells for the grass.

Carol DM says:

January 14, 2018 at 8:26 pm

Thanks for commenting Pamela.

1

Here, with this bird, I have not seen them.

Carol DM says:

January 12, 2018 at 11:27 pm

They are only in North America.

Great photos, thank you for sharing the story 🙂

Carol DM says:

January 12, 2018 at 11:26 pm

Thank you for reading and commenting.

1

I can see their beauty more clearly this time.

Carol DM says:

January 12, 2018 at 11:25 pm

Yes they are even more beautiful in person Albert. This was taken through my glass doors.

1
- Albert Herdianto Widjojo says:
  
  January 13, 2018 at 12:33 am
  
  Oh… really so? The picture looks pretty clear.
  
  1
  - Carol DM says:
    
    September 23, 2018 at 9:13 pm
    
    Thanks, I am still trying to get pics of them outside. They are easily startled.
    
    1

Thank you for visiting and commenting.

The story is so cute and the blue jays are so pretty.

Carol DM says:

January 12, 2018 at 6:54 pm

I was so curious as to where they went when they flew off with a mouthful!

1
- Kim_Johnson says:
  
  January 13, 2018 at 12:53 pm
  
  lol, glad you found their little picnic area, so cute to see the shells left.
  
  1

Thomas Gouard says:

December 30, 2018 at 3:05 am

Another lovely shot of the Blue Jays. I have never seen them eat, let alone eat peanuts!
ellie925 says:

January 14, 2018 at 2:24 am

Wonderful post! I find blue jays cuter than the Eurasian jays (I find the latter quite intimidating, although they are beautiful too), but after I read your post, I guess that they have a similar character.

1
- Carol DM says:
  
  January 14, 2018 at 8:27 pm
  
  Not familiar with Eurasian ays but these are very aggressive. And the color is stunning. Thanks!
  
  1
Georgi Tsachev says:

January 13, 2018 at 10:39 am

Nice post! Nice pictures!

1
- Carol DM says:
  
  January 14, 2018 at 8:26 pm
  
  Thank you so much Georgi.
Pamela Moresby says:

January 13, 2018 at 5:40 am

Great post and birds leave shells for the grass.

1
- Carol DM says:
  
  January 14, 2018 at 8:26 pm
  
  Thanks for commenting Pamela.
  
  1
lacho59 says:

January 12, 2018 at 11:19 pm

Here, with this bird, I have not seen them.

1
- Carol DM says:
  
  January 12, 2018 at 11:27 pm
  
  They are only in North America.
MommyofEli2013 says:

January 12, 2018 at 10:40 pm

Great photos, thank you for sharing the story 🙂

1
- Carol DM says:
  
  January 12, 2018 at 11:26 pm
  
  Thank you for reading and commenting.
  
  1
Albert Herdianto Widjojo says:

January 12, 2018 at 10:01 pm

I can see their beauty more clearly this time.

1
- Carol DM says:
  
  January 12, 2018 at 11:25 pm
  
  Yes they are even more beautiful in person Albert. This was taken through my glass doors.
  
  1
  - Albert Herdianto Widjojo says:
    
    January 13, 2018 at 12:33 am
    
    Oh… really so? The picture looks pretty clear.
    
    1
    - Carol DM says:
      
      September 23, 2018 at 9:13 pm
      
      Thanks, I am still trying to get pics of them outside. They are easily startled.
      
      1
Carol DM says:

January 12, 2018 at 6:53 pm

Thank you for visiting and commenting.

1
Kim_Johnson says:

January 12, 2018 at 2:46 pm

The story is so cute and the blue jays are so pretty.

1
- Carol DM says:
  
  January 12, 2018 at 6:54 pm
  
  I was so curious as to where they went when they flew off with a mouthful!
  
  1
  - Kim_Johnson says:
    
    January 13, 2018 at 12:53 pm
    
    lol, glad you found their little picnic area, so cute to see the shells left.
    
    1

Blue Jays and Peanuts

Blue Jays on deck feeder

Shells left by Birds

Evidence: Cracked Peanuts

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Written by Carol DM

19 Comments

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