[NatureNS] size of corvid flocks

Date: Tue, 09 Jan 2007 11:44:30 -0500
From: "Laviolette, Lance (EXP)" <lance.laviolette@lmco.com>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Thread-Topic: [NatureNS] size of corvid flocks
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Hi Brian and others,
 
A few notes on fall and winter concentrations of Blue Jays and corvids.
When I was living at Greenwich in the Valley and feeding birds, I would
'see' concentrations of one to two dozen Blue Jays. However, through a
small banding study I did, I know that there were many more Blue Jays
coming to the feeders over the course of the winter than I would have
thought without the banding. It also showed that in spite of the
abundant food source I had set out, at least some of the Blue Jays I was
feeding were also ranging kilometres away to the Wolfville area to visit
other feeders during that winter.
 
Regarding Blue Jay migration at Brier Island, autumn flocks can be in
the order of many hundreds or more at times. This is nothing compared to
the numbers that occur at the winter roosts of American Crows. The
'traditional' roost, whose numbers are included in the Wolfville
Christmas count, can be in excess of 20,000.
 
All the best,
 
Lance


	From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca
[mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of Brian Bartlett
	Sent: January 6, 2007 6:43 PM
	To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
	Subject: [NatureNS] size 
________________________________

	  of corvid flocks
	
	
	Here in West End Halifax I find it's common to see Blue Jays
alone or in pairs, and even more often to hear them, but less common to
see them in larger groups -- such as half a dozen close together I saw a
few days ago, without binoculars so I couldn't tell if there was a mix
of adults and juveniles. While I've had so little luck with backyard
feeders that I've given up on them (having two outdoor cats is no help),
I wonder if those with feeders are accustomed to seeing larger groups of
Blue Jays. I've read that all members of the Corvid family gather at
least in small groups, but I'm wondering how large groups of Blue Jays
get. Surely nothing like mobs of Crows -- but how much larger than 1/2
dozen?
	Thanks for any observations.
	Brian


--Boundary_(ID_4FGeOPv+xt3eavpFNeBlNQ)
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<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=873262416-09012007><FONT face=Arial 
color=#0000ff size=2>Hi Brian and others,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=873262416-09012007><FONT face=Arial 
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=873262416-09012007><FONT face=Arial 
color=#0000ff size=2>A few notes on fall and winter concentrations of Blue Jays 
and corvids. When I was living at Greenwich in the Valley and feeding birds, I 
would 'see' concentrations of one to two dozen Blue Jays. However, through a 
small banding study I did, I know that there were many more Blue Jays coming to 
the feeders over the course of the winter than I would have thought without the 
banding. It also showed that in spite of the abundant food source I had set out, 
at least some of the Blue Jays I was feeding were also ranging kilometres away 
to the Wolfville area to visit other feeders during that 
winter.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=873262416-09012007><FONT face=Arial 
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=873262416-09012007><FONT face=Arial 
color=#0000ff size=2>Regarding Blue Jay migration at Brier Island, autumn flocks 
can be in the order of many hundreds or more&nbsp;at times. This is nothing 
compared to the numbers that occur at the winter roosts of American Crows. The 
'traditional' roost, whose numbers are included in the Wolfville Christmas 
count, can be in excess of 20,000.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=873262416-09012007><FONT face=Arial 
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=873262416-09012007><FONT face=Arial 
color=#0000ff size=2>All the best,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=873262416-09012007><FONT face=Arial 
color=#0000ff size=2></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=873262416-09012007><FONT face=Arial 
color=#0000ff size=2>Lance</FONT></SPAN></DIV><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr 
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
  <DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left><FONT 
  face=Tahoma size=2><B>From:</B> naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca 
  [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Brian 
  Bartlett<BR><B>Sent:</B> January 6, 2007 6:43 PM<BR><B>To:</B> 
  naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<BR><B>Subject:</B> [NatureNS] size
  <HR tabIndex=-1>
  <FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>&nbsp;</FONT> of corvid 
  flocks<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
  <DIV></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Here in West End Halifax I find&nbsp;it's common 
  to see Blue Jays alone or in pairs, and even more often to hear them, but less 
  common to see them in larger groups -- such as half a dozen&nbsp;close 
  together I saw a few days ago, without binoculars so I couldn't tell if there 
  was a mix of adults and juveniles. While I've had so little luck with backyard 
  feeders that I've given up on them (having two outdoor cats is no help), I 
  wonder if those with feeders are accustomed to seeing larger groups of Blue 
  Jays. I've read that all members of the Corvid family gather at least in small 
  groups, but I'm wondering how large groups of Blue Jays get. Surely nothing 
  like mobs of Crows -- but how much larger than 1/2 dozen?</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thanks for any observations.</FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Brian</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

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