56 OUR WINTER BIRDS 



well-made dwelling, he still will make no outcry. 



You may think him cowardly and point to the 

 bravery of the Robin and other birds in defending 

 their haunts. But Blue Jay is not a coward; he 

 merely seems to have some of that discretion which 

 is the better part of valor. Screaming and making 

 a great fuss would not help matters and might draw 

 a crowd, so he keeps perfectly still and watches you 

 from a nearby hiding place. 



Perhaps with that confidence in mankind which 

 has led him to live near us, he may believe that you 

 will not take his eggs or harm his offspring. But 

 let a Crow or Owl appear and he will give you a 

 convincing exhibition of his courage. 



I once watched a Blue Jay's nest containing five 

 young birds for over an hour before I saw anything 

 of the parents, though they must have seen me. 

 Then they came only for a moment and were gone 

 again. But when I placed a stuffed Screech Owl 

 near their nest, they came to the defense of their 

 young as fast as their wings could bring them, and 

 attacked the poor little Owl with such force that at 

 the first blow he was knocked completely off his 

 perch. 



About May first Blue Jay builds a large, finely 

 woven nest of twigs, lined with rootlets, and places 



