Photo by Celine Pollard - Fine Art America
The Gray Jay, a.k.a. the Canada Jay, Whiskey Jack (or Whisky Jack), Camp Robber, Moose Bird, Gorby (gorbie bird), Venison Hawk or Lumberjack also has an indigenous name: Wisakedjak (Algonquin). The Gray Jay name is also spelled Grey Jay occasionally.
It has come close to being called the national bird of Canada, but does not have that official designation yet.
I became richly familiar with the Gray Jay on many canoe trips in southern Ontario, particularly throughout Algonquin Park, as a teenager and young adult.
The Gray Jay is know for its bold behaviour from Alaska, coast to coast in Canada, and on the U.S. north-west coast, plus the mountains of the U.S. mid-west.
They are common to fairly common in conifer and mixed-conifer forests, but declining in some areas due to timber harvesting. They are vulnerable to habitat loss from logging operations and forest fragmentation.
They will visit feeders with corn, suet and sunflower seeds. They are voracious beggars for handouts on canoe trips, as mentioned above.
Their voices include a whistled 'wheeo' and a loud 'chuck'.
They are largely resident in their normal range, but can be casual visitors in winter even slightly south of their normal resident range.
I have always had a special place in my heart for the Common Loon to be Canada's national bird, but if is meant for the Gray Jay to be Canada's national bird, it is fine with me.
Please comment if you wish.
BarrytheBirder
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