BIRDS OF THE ST. CROIX RIVER VALLEY 



107 



human population. Colonial martin houses in residential and rural areas 

 have become vitally important to this species. 



FAMILY CORVIDAE: Jays, Magpies, and Crows 



Gray Jay {Perisoreus canadensis) 



Status: Casual migrant, winter and summer resident. 



Migration: Irregular migrant throughout the Valley. Earliest fall migration 

 records include 17 October 1976 (Washington County), 25 October 1965 

 (Crex Meadows, Burnett County), and 1 November 1974 (Chisago County). 

 Most fall observations occur 15 November to 15 December. Green (1967) de- 

 scribed an invasion of gray jays in northern Minnesota that resulted in sev- 

 eral Valley records. Spring observations range from 23 February 1957 to 

 30 March 1966 and 6 April 1954 (Crex Meadows, Burnett County). 



Nesting Season Distribution: W. Norhng observed one pair of gray jays in a 

 spruce forest southwest of Moose Junction, Douglas County, on 3 July 

 1978. On 27 June 1956, A. C. Sprunt observed several gray jays in the Koh- 

 ler-Peet Wildlife Area, Burnett County (Lound and Lound 19566). Sprunt 

 found this species near Gordon, Douglas County, on 6 July 1956. 



Winter: Irregular winter visitor with documented records only from Burnett 

 (1948, 1955, 1957, and 1976), Pierce (January 2, 1976) and Pine (1973 and 

 1976) counties. During the winter of 1956-57, gray jays were reported as 

 "numerous" near Grantsburg, Burnett County. This species is probably 

 more common during winter months than available data indicate, par- 

 ticularly in the Northern Highland. 



Habitat: During migration and winter, gray jays use a variety of habitats in- 

 cluding Lowland Coniferous Forest, Northern Hardwood Forest, and Jack 

 Pine Barren. Summer observations have been restricted to extensive areas 

 of Lowland Coniferous Forest. 



Blue Jay {Cyanocitta cristaia) 



Status: Regular migrant, nesting species, and winter resident. 



Migration: Common to locally abundant migrant in all regions. The first 

 migration movements in spring are usually noted about 1-5 April and peak 

 numbers occur 25 April to 10 May. Fall migration begins in mid- August 

 with the formation of loose flocks. Peak movements during fall occur 

 5-15 September and most migrants have departed the Northern Highland 

 by 15 November. 



Nesting Season Distribution: Fairly common breeding species in the 

 Western Upland and Central Plain, common in the Norchern Highland. God- 

 dard (1972) found the blue jay to be among the 10 most common breeding 

 birds in mixed deciduous habitat along the Kinnickinnic River, Pierce 

 County. Mean breeding density in that area was 23 pairs per 40 ha. Breeding 



