Canada Jays in Algonquin Park

Ron Pittaway and I saw 5 Canada Jays on Spruce Bog Boardwalk trail. Our first three were a family group where the trail leaves the woods and crosses the bog, and the second group was a duo in the woods past the bog. The friendly jays silently appeared. 28 December 2019.

 

Many thanks to Dan Strickland and Matt Fuirst whose continuing Canada Jay research in Algonquin Park provided the colour band combinations with details about each individual, and Ron Tozer for forwarding the information. All ages as of April 2020.

 

Family Group of 3 at Sunday Creek

Canada Jay 1.  The first band combination we recorded was OOTL TOSR (orange over pale blue on left; pale blue over standard on right). This Canada Jay is almost one year old and is the dominant first year bird still with its parents on the territory where it hatched. Spruce Bog Boardwalk on 28 December 2019.

 

Canada Jay 1. Another photo of the dominant young Canada Jay OOTL TOSR (orange over pale blue on left; pale blue over standard on right). Canada Jays love soft food. We brought white cheese, dried cranberries, small pieces of steak, ham, brown bread. They don`t eat nuts. It flew down for food to take away and store. Spruce Bog Boardwalk on 28 December 2019.

 

Canada Jay 2: Band combination TOSL BOGR (pale blue over standard on left, blue over green on right). This Canada Jay is a 5 year-old female, parent of Number 1 and paired with Number 3. Spruce Bog Boardwalk on 28 December 2019

 

Canada Jay 2: Another photo of female parent TOSL BOGR (Pale blue over standard on left; blue over green on right). Spruce Bog Boardwalk on 28 December 2019

 

Canada Jay 3: Band combination YOSL OOYR. (yellow over standard on left; orange over yellow on right). This Canada Jay is a male, at least 9 years old, parent of Number 1 and mated to Number 2. All the Canada Jays loved soft food: white cheese, dried cranberries, small pieces of steak, ham, brown bread. Spruce Bog Boardwalk on 28 December 2019.

 

Canada Jay 3: Another photo of the male parent YOSL OOYR (yellow over standard on left; orange over yellow on right). Canada Jay 3 also came to the main parking lot, where this photo was taken. Spruce Bog Boardwalk on 28 December 2019.

 

Group of 2 Across Boardwalk

Canada Jay 4:  Band combination KOSL KOBR (pink over standard on left; pink over blue on right). This Canada Jay is a female at least 4 years old, and is paired with Canada Jay 5. They were in spruce woods across the boardwalk. Spruce Bog Boardwalk on 28 December 2019.

 

Canada Jay 4:  Another photo of female KOSL KOBR (pink over standard on left; pink over blue on right) as it came to check out bread and other treats. Spruce Bog Boardwalk on 28 December 2019.

 

Canada Jay 5:  Band combination KOSL GOBR (pink over standard on left; green over blue on right). This Canada Jay is a 2 year-old male and is paired with Canada Jay 4. There were just the two without an offspring. Spruce Bog Boardwalk on 28 December 2019.

 

Canada Jay 5:  Another photo of 2 year-old male KOSL GOBR taking brown bread to store. Spruce Bog Boardwalk on 28 December 2019.