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Where can i find a Steller's Jay? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter gthang
- Start date
Dave B Smith
Well-known member
Western US or Mexico.
Doug Greenberg
Well-known member
Go to www.google.com and enter "Steller's Jay photo."
You'll get lots of hits. Here's an example:
http://www.briansmallphoto.com/gallery/stja.html
You'll get lots of hits. Here's an example:
http://www.briansmallphoto.com/gallery/stja.html
Doug Greenberg
Well-known member
Pardon me, but you said, "get a picture," which was linked to the fact that the bird apparently does not appear in your eastern bird guide.
You did not say "see" or "take a photograph." And in either case, looking up "Steller's jay" in Google would seem to me a logical (and quick!) first step.
Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado would seem to me the closest location where you would be guaranteed easy-to-photograph Steller's jays.
You did not say "see" or "take a photograph." And in either case, looking up "Steller's jay" in Google would seem to me a logical (and quick!) first step.
Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado would seem to me the closest location where you would be guaranteed easy-to-photograph Steller's jays.
crispycreme
Well-known member
Interestingly, Steller's Jays are becoming easier to spot outside of their traditional habitats (pine forests). Because of the incessant drought and the bark beetle infestation, their food sources have been dwindling and they've been forced elsewhere to survive. I doubt they'll increase their range eastward much, since the Blue Jay holds fort there, but we've seen them with more and more regularity down here in the desert.
Doug Greenberg
Well-known member
And let me add that I'm sorry if my last post seemed a little testy. I was only trying to help 
Doug
Doug
gthang
Ford Focus Fanatic: mmmmmm... 3.1415926535.....
apology accepted. I suppose i was a little quizzical in the wording of my question. But anyway, the steller's jay does appear in the Sibley eastern guide, but the book says it's a "rare winter visitor from Rocky Mountains to western edge of eastern North America."
Add the fact that there's no map next to it, and makes seeing it in person that much harder.
Anyway, my dad wants to go to Utah sometime for vacation. Is that a good start for seeing western birds? We plan on getting the Sibley Western version during the trip.
Add the fact that there's no map next to it, and makes seeing it in person that much harder.
Anyway, my dad wants to go to Utah sometime for vacation. Is that a good start for seeing western birds? We plan on getting the Sibley Western version during the trip.
Michael Frankis
conehead
Hi Gthang,
They should be very easy in Utah, anywhere at middle altitudes in the mountains - hope you have a successful trip.
It'd be worth getting the western Sibley well before you go (like now!!), and read up on what to look for out there. Lots of other super birds as well as Steller's out there, Gray Jays, Pinyon Jays and Clark's Nutcrackers, for starters.
Just wish I was going as well . . .
Michael
They should be very easy in Utah, anywhere at middle altitudes in the mountains - hope you have a successful trip.
It'd be worth getting the western Sibley well before you go (like now!!), and read up on what to look for out there. Lots of other super birds as well as Steller's out there, Gray Jays, Pinyon Jays and Clark's Nutcrackers, for starters.
Just wish I was going as well . . .
Michael
2sillycats
Member
gthang said:
Come to New Mexico. They are all over the place. Lay out some food on a picnic table in the mountains and you will be mobbed by them. LOL!
Carson
Well-known member
The Steller's Jay is the provincial emblem of B. C., where I live. But it's much more widespread than that.
Pleasesleep, a few Steller's Jays are tame in a few special places, such as you visited. Clark's Nutcrackers are also sometimes tame. But Steller's Jays are characteristically very wild. They come to feeders like any jays, but on their own terms and with obvious caution.
crispycreme, Steller's Jays occupy a different niche from Blue Jays. I can't see them competing directly. However, Steller's Jays are limited by habitat demands for pretty tall, deep forests. They don't have to stay IN the forests; they love back yards nearby; but they are far less sociable with human society than are Blue Jays. Very roughly, like wolves contrasted with coyotes.
And Utah is an absolutely beautiful state, full of giant red rock formations. Gorgeous!
Pleasesleep, a few Steller's Jays are tame in a few special places, such as you visited. Clark's Nutcrackers are also sometimes tame. But Steller's Jays are characteristically very wild. They come to feeders like any jays, but on their own terms and with obvious caution.
crispycreme, Steller's Jays occupy a different niche from Blue Jays. I can't see them competing directly. However, Steller's Jays are limited by habitat demands for pretty tall, deep forests. They don't have to stay IN the forests; they love back yards nearby; but they are far less sociable with human society than are Blue Jays. Very roughly, like wolves contrasted with coyotes.
And Utah is an absolutely beautiful state, full of giant red rock formations. Gorgeous!
I lived in Utah for a while and Steller Jays are very common. They are a pretty bird. You should have no problem sighting some in Utah if you get in the mountians or foothills at all. They were very vissible at Navaho Lake, just east of Cedar City. Also common in the suburbs of Salt Lake City.
Rod
Rod
jfrosenberg
Member
The west coast has lots. My birdfeeder can attest to that!!
gthang said:
I'm a New Yorker but have not seen any in the last two years in Central Park or nearby and don't have any hope of seeing them here. The Sibley Guide to Birds (Knopf, 2000) shows them in the Western US and there's pictures of several on page 351.
I did see a few on June 15 of this year at a feeder at the Audubon Society in Portland, Oregon.
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W.coast Raptor
North Coast Raptor
I have raised many steller jay babies and juveniles, These inquisitive, very strong and extremely interesting birds are numerous out here in California. Very neat bird to admire in the wild and work with at the center.
Certified wildlife rehab provider for 4 local agencies.
Certified wildlife rehab provider for 4 local agencies.
Katy Penland
Well-known member
Just so everyone knows, this is an old thread that I think was inadvertently answered thinking it was a recent inquiry.
