50 BULLETIN 191, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



I remember seeing, several years ago in mid-September, a migration 

 of jays that covered a wide area. During a drive of 50 miles northvi^est 

 out of Boston, Mass., jays continually crossed the road in front of my 

 car. I soon noticed that all of them crossed from the right to the left 

 side of the road and were therefore flying south. Most of them were 

 single birds, but occasionally two or three flew near together. I noticed 

 them for 20 miles or so. Again, also in September, I saw a flock of 

 15 or 20 jays fly southward across the parade ground on Boston Com- 

 mon, which is surrounded on all sides by miles of closely built-up c,ity. 

 These birds were so closely packed that I mistook them at first for a 

 flock of grackles. 



William Brewster (1937) speaks of a similar observation thus: 

 "1888, September 13. — During the last three days I have seen many 

 flocks of Blue Jays, containing anywhere from a dozen to twenty birds 

 each, flying southward in the daytime over open country, not in scattered 

 order, but as compactly 'bunched' as so many Blackbirds c.orrespond- 

 ingly employed. Without doubt they were migrating." 



Rev. J. J. Murray writes to us: "In the Valley of Virginia, they are 

 certainly migratory. Here they are much commoner in summer than 

 in winter, being very scarce indeed during some winters. Migration is 

 more noticeable in fall than in spring. Through October, and some- 

 times up to the middle of November, migrating flocks are seen moving 

 south. I have seen as many as 25 or 30 blue jays pass a favorable 

 location in an hour, usually in strung-out flight." 



Maurice Broun (1941) reports heavy migrations of blue jays at 

 Hawk Mountain, Pa., "from the third week in September until mid- 

 October." He says: 



The jays may be seen in loose flocks, or in orderly processions, on either side 

 of the ridge, and at any elevation, in numbers varying from twelve to three 

 hundred or more birds. I have noticed each season that jays are on the move 

 by 7 a. m., but by mid-afternoon their flights terminate. As a rule, the birds 

 keep just above the tree tops, and seldom is there much fuss or noise; indeed, 

 observers at the lookout must be keenly alert to detect, each passing group of 

 jays. * * * 



During a sixteen day period beginning September 24, 1939, I made an approxi- 

 mate count of 7,350 Blue Jays. Doubtless many jays slipped by uncounted. The 

 majority of the birds passed through in a constant stream regardless of weather 

 conditions, from September 30 to October 6. The peak of the migration came on 

 October 1, a day of alternating rain and mist, with raw northerly winds ; at 

 least 1,535 birds passed the lookout, even during the rain, in groups of from 

 100 to 350. Again on October 3, despite obliterating mists during the forenoon, 

 and fresh easterly winds all day, I counted several large flocks at various parts 

 of the Sanctuary, and the far from complete count for the day was 1,250 birds. 



Winter. — The blue jay is an attractive winter bird. He fits well into 



