The Canada Jay

What’s there to do on the homestead in the dead cold of a mid-northern Canadian Winter?

Freezing temperatures in the minus twenties and thirties are not conducive to a very active outdoor life…. but that doesn’t stop the Whisky Jack!

Whisky Jacks make for some giggle worthy winter entertainment. They are fearless, curious, friendly and persistent and are always eager to take food from your hands or land on top of your head.

The food I leave for them disappears very quickly, sometimes with the help of our resident ravens, and both of these birds from the Corvidae family like to cache their food. Jays mate for life or until one dies, and over the years we have acquired what seems to be a devoted couple and perhaps some of their offspring. Each year as winter approaches, they start hanging around the feed stand, showing up every day at precisely the time I am out walking my dogs, twice a day....

...hungry little beggers!

More often than not, they will show up at the house and then follow me, flying from tree to tree as I make my rounds around the trail until I eventually stop and leave them some kibble and snacks which includes seeds and nuts.

Once spring comes, they seem to all but disappear, no doubt to raise their young. If we are lucky, they will bless us by bringing the youngsters around in late summer or early fall. It is such a beautiful sight to see the shy babies, as big as their parents, learning the ropes!

What’s in a name?

The name Whisky Jack is a variation of a word used in the Algonquin languages of eastern Canada and implies a transforming spirit who is mischievous and who likes to play tricks on people, definitely an excellent assessment of the Jay’s character.

Other names this scavenger has been come to be known as over the years includes Gray Jay and camp robber.

Most recently however, the Whisky Jack has been given back its official name of years past.

_{photo © Heather Johnsgaard}

The Canada Jay
Perisoreus Canadensis

The process of assigning common names to species of birds by the American Ornithological Union (AOU) had changed over the years.

Basically history shows that the AOU had not followed their own naming rules, and a case was made by seven bird experts who submitted a proposal to the American Ornithological Society (in 2016 the AOU merged with the Cooper Ornithological Society to become the AOU) to have the name changed.

In May, 2018, it happened and the Gray Jay’s name was officially changed to its original name of Canada Jay.

Now, we just have to wait to see if the Canadian government decides to make it a national symbol.

Meanwhile, my family and I will continue to enjoy my winters in company of these comical little birds.