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What’s one name you have for this fluffy, little bird?

Is one name perhaps Gray Jay? That was a very common name for this bird for a few years. Its coloring is mainly white and gray and it is a jay in the Corvid family. The Gray Jay name has been let go by many in favor of Canada Jay. In looking at its scientific name, you can see why. It is mainly found in Canada as well as a few northern U.S. states and Alaska. Its gray and white feathers get extra fluffy in the winter providing insulation through cold days and nights. Canada jays even grow feathers to cover their legs and nostrils. These fluffy little birds are tough winter survivors.

Is another name you call this bird Camp Robber? That nickname seems to apply to a number of birds, especially Corvids like this one, who have figured out that humans can be careless about food. Corvids seem to be ready to take advantage of human food left unattended. While the human food can be bad in the long run for wild birds, they’re still willing to steal it. It’s really up to humans to keep their food away from the camp robbers so the birds eat the healthy food found in nature.

Canada Jays are great little omnivores. They’ll make a meal out of bugs, seeds, berries, small rodents, and carrion (dead animals). But what puts Canada Jays a step ahead in surviving winter is what they do with the food. Yes, some is eaten immediately. But some food is stored away for winter. Canada Jays don’t migrate during the winter. They like to stay in the same area. So all summer and fall, Canada Jays store in the crevices of tree bark. The food stays there because it is stuck with sticky saliva. Come winter, when food is scarce, the Canada Jay goes back to the sticky food it saved in the nooks and crannies of trees like the douglas-fir.

Where have you seen Canada Jays in the national park? What do you find works best for keeping your food safe from these little camp robbers? ~ams

More information on birds in the national park can be found here  https://www.nps.gov/mora/learn/nature/birds.htm

Nature’s canvas is painted with countless wonders, and The Grand Canyon stands as one of its most magnificent masterpieces. Carved over eons by the hands of geological processes, this iconic chasm reveals a mesmerizing tapestry of colors, textures, and geological formations. In this article, we embark on a journey through time to unravel the captivating story of The Grand Canyon’s formation,…

Nature’s canvas is painted with countless wonders, and The Grand Canyon stands as one of its most magnificent masterpieces. Carved over eons by the hands of geological processes, this iconic chasm reveals a mesmerizing tapestry of colors, textures, and geological formations. In this article, we embark on a journey through time to unravel the captivating story of The Grand Canyon’s formation,…

Happy 115th anniversary to #MuirWoodsNationalMonument, which was designated as a National Monument #onthisday in 1908.

🗺- In #MuirWoods, #California, you are on Graton Rancheria and Me-Wuk (Coast Miwok) land.

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Explore the Mammoth Cave Core Visitor Services Area Cultural Landscape

More than a cave!

The natural features of Mammoth Cave National Park include the longest known cave system in the world, surrounding river valleys, karst topography, and rolling, wooded hillsides. The cultural landscape is also a record of a 12,000-year conversation between people and land spanning the first explorations by prehistoric people, mineral mining, early homesteading, preparations for the War of 1812, and 200 years of tourism leading to development of the national park.

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In addition to providing an overview of the history and features of the landscape, this article introduces the Cultural Landscape Report (CLR) for Mammoth Cave Core Visitor Services Area. The CLR is a planning document that guides treatment, now and into the future. It aims to balance protection and enhancement of the site’s historic integrity with visitor access and interpretation needs, within a broader framework of sustainable land management.

Discover more about Mammoth Cave National Park

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