Reply #32: We don't see them anymore. They used to "own" the yard.

[Blue Diadem]

That was before the neighbor cut down the fence row of trees and west nile hit around here.

I've been swooped and chased and pecked at when one of their young fell out of a tree and I made the mistake of walking in my own backyard.

Back then, we had an indoor/outdoor cat who wasn't afraid of anything, well, except the huge owl that used to come around. He'd hear that thing hoot and he'd dive for cover. Old Sir Thomas C. cat used to have fun with the blue jays though. He'd lay on his back and they'd swoop and he'd swat. He'd get up and run, they'd chase him, he'd fall over and do it all over again. We used to laugh because when he'd go outside the Jays would start screaming and I swear they were saying CAT CAT! Course, they also did that same call when the dog would go out too.

I do miss seeing them, they are beautiful birds and they sure can make so many interesting sounds.