Jay Watch counts like this are held just after breeding season so any new surviving chicks can be observed. It also tries to learn if any new birds have joined an existing family group or if a family has relocated to another area.
The only down side is that it happens when it is HOT! With many days of afternoon rain, however, it seemed much cooler than last year. I was also assigned to a new location. Last year I was next to the coast at Buck Lake. This year I helped at the Lake Monroe Conservation Area just off of Lake Monroe as it empties into the St. John's River.
Or is it enters the lake? The river does flow North...
On this first day of the three day count, I was given a ride by Alex, one of the several Saint John's Water Management team. The four of us stopped at our determined check points. At each stop we exited the car, played tape recorded Scrub Jay vocalizations, and waited to see if we could observe any jays.
We heard one at an early spot but did not see any until check point 28. There, Susan (another volunteer) was greeted by a family of four. I asked Alex to let me try and get a photo and to try and see any bands that might be on any of the birds. I could make out some yellow and white bands but the real proof was delivered by the couple of shots I got before the birds dropped into the surrounding scrub.
In the field I could only make out the bright colors but the photo revealed two more bands. Silver and dark green.
We had to call the last check points off due to Swallow-tailed Kites in the area. Unknown to me, these Kites are now considered predators in this instance as they have been seen swooping down at Jays in the area. Using tapes to call the Jays into the open would be inviting them to dinner.
These were the only Scrub Jays for our group on this day. Tomorrow, I might get a new route. We shall see what birds are in the other areas.
No comments:
Post a Comment