Top Secrets of The Jay Family: From Nest Building to Antibazhing With Ants

The birds continue their work diligently, pulling pieces of root from the ground that are disturbed with their beaks. With their beaks full of roots they disappear again. A nest is clearly being made here.

You recognize the barbie by its red color and the bright blue and black feathers on its wings. It is said that the Flemish origin of its name is due to the reddish brown ‘flame’ of the plum. Or it was a reference to the beautiful clothes of the rich bourgeoisie from Flanders. The migratory behavior of the species could also be an explanation. Sometimes tens of thousands of seals appear here in the winter; Before that they were thought to have come from Flanders.

Magpie screamed

Saiggean is related to the crow and ‘sea’ is a screaming sister’s nickname for the bird. They can make some noise. With his scream he warns others about intruders in the forest. Other birds thankfully take advantage of this. Jays also seem to be able to sing beautifully, but I have never been able to catch them doing that.

His Latin name roughly translates to ‘scratching acorn seeker’. The name is appropriate, because in autumn these birds hide thousands of berries in the ground as a winter supply. With about five berries in the top (pharynx) and one in the beak at the same time, that’s quite a job. In the cold months they dig up these berries one by one. The forgotten specimens can grow into new trees, which has given the jay another nickname: forester. If the bird notices that someone else is watching, it will come back later to hide the berries somewhere else. In addition to berries, snails eat insects in the summer and berries and fruit in the fall. They also eat eggs and young birds. With its strong beak, the sawfly can cut holes in hard shells, such as snail shells and nut shells.

Jays have even more useful tricks. If they suffer from bed bugs, they just take an ant bath. With their wings and tail spread, they sit in the middle of an anthill. To repel that infamous invader, the ants spray the formic acid on the bird. And that acidic substance helps the smallpox to get rid of its parasites.