Migrating Blue Jays?

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Craig Kesselheim

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May 21, 2023, 6:08:51 PM5/21/23
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Hi all - At Schoodic Point today I observed a cohesive band of northward-flying Blue Jays, around 27 of them. They stuck together, seemed intent on moving on, and briefly alit in some conifers.

Anyone else seen Blue Jay movements like this? If so, I'd appreciate a share.

Craig K
SW Harbor

duch...@midmaine.com

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May 21, 2023, 7:02:16 PM5/21/23
to Craig Kesselheim, Maine Birders Listserv

My goodness, yes. I’ve seen 30+ doing the same thing multiple times over the last week. By my observation, a lot of blue jays left the state this winter, and they’re wicked late flocking back in. Apparently, chickadees are doing it, too.

 

Bob Duchesne

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Kristen Lindquist

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May 21, 2023, 7:09:21 PM5/21/23
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Big flocks here on Monhegan making feints at group departure, as well. 

Kristen 

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chr...@myfairpoint.net

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May 21, 2023, 7:23:10 PM5/21/23
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I've been noticing the same thing over the past few weeks.  And, we've had the biggest invasion of White-throated Sparrows in our yard that I've ever seen.  It started several weeks ago and ebbed and flowed.  I never made an accurate count, but I estimate about 15 individuals in the yard on multiple occasions.  And then they abruptly disappeared a few days ago.  Haven't seen any since.

Wally S

David Doubleday

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May 21, 2023, 7:24:30 PM5/21/23
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On Monhegan round 9:30am, Friday May 19,  Betsy and I observed a group of 35-40 jays moving northwesterly above the boreal forest north of the village.  Over the next couple or more minutes there were individual jays moving generally in the same direction the group had taken.
Dave Doubleday

Seth Benz

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May 21, 2023, 8:50:31 PM5/21/23
to David Doubleday, Maine birds
At Schoodic on Saturday, blue jay flocks of 40, 17, 13, 8 and stragglers by 1 or 2s. All during morning from 6:15 to 9:30.

Also had a single flock of 65 fly over downtown Belfast a couple of days ago.

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Robert Milardo

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May 22, 2023, 8:31:05 AM5/22/23
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Yes quite often over the years. Noticeable not necessarily because of the size of flocks but because of the behavior, direct flights above treetops which implies migration.  I’ve often wondered if they migrate at night as well.  

Robert Milardo Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Family Relations


On May 21, 2023, at 7:23 PM, chr...@myfairpoint.net wrote:



wtownsend

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May 22, 2023, 8:48:51 AM5/22/23
to Robert Milardo, chr...@myfairpoint.net, maine...@googlegroups.com
When I was an active bander I banded a Blue Jay in Sorrento (Maine) that hit a window in Foxboro, Mass 48 hours later.



Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

BARBARA P HERRGESELL

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May 22, 2023, 3:24:46 PM5/22/23
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My expert at Derby Hill Hawk watch
 on L. Ontario, says they 
do fly in flocks there, also with stragglers. 
I had not noticed that in my years there. 

Barbara. Formerly of NYS. 

Sent from my iPhone

On May 21, 2023, at 8:50 PM, Seth Benz <sb...@schoodicinstitute.org> wrote:



Ian Lynch

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May 22, 2023, 4:01:42 PM5/22/23
to BARBARA P HERRGESELL, Maine birds
When I lived in northeast Ohio, it was a regular sight on spring migration to watch a steady stream of Blue Jays heading east along the shore of Lake Erie. Clearly, they would rather fly around than over the Great Lakes. The count for a morning would often easily be measured in hundreds. With Blue Jays, "flock" hardly seems to be the correct term since they advance like an infantry unit in a string most of the time. I noticed Blue Jay movement here in Waterville a couple of weeks ago, but haven't really seen it since.

Peace שָׁלוֹם سلام

Ian
he/him/his


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