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Blue Jay


Blue Jay
Photo Information
Copyright: Mario Belanger (EOSF1) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1393 W: 119 N: 5267] (23955)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-07-14
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 40D, Canon EF 100-400 F4-5.6 L IS USM, ISO 400, B+W 77 010 UV-Haze 1 x
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/250 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes (Fill) Flash: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-07-16 6:50
Viewed: 3388
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 64
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note [French]
A young Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata 25-30 cm) near the feeders of the garden.

From: www.birds.cornell.edu
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata Order PASSERIFORMES - Family CORVIDAE
A familiar sight at bird feeders, the boldly patterned Blue Jay is unmistakable. It is abundant in the East and is extending into the West, using food and shelter provided by humans.
Size: 25-30 cm (10-12 in)
Wingspan: 34-43 cm (13-17 in)
Weight: 70-100 g (2.47-3.53 ounces)
Sex Differences
Sexes alike.
Sound
Very vocal; make a large variety of calls. Most frequent call is a harsh "jeer." Also clear whistled notes and gurgling sounds.
Conservation Status
Breeding Bird Survey data show a slight but significant decline in Blue Jay numbers across the United States, with most of the decline in the East. Some have implicated it in the decline of some Neotropical migrant species because it is a nest predator and prefers forest edges, but little direct evidence has been found.
Other Names
Geai bleu (French)
Cool Facts
Although the migration of Blue Jays is an obvious phenomenon, with thousands moving past some points along the coast, much about it remains a mystery. Some jays are present throughout the winter in all parts of the range. Which jays move and which stay put? Although young jays may be more likely to migrate than adults, many adults do migrate. Some individual jays may migrate south in one year, stay north the next winter, and then migrate south again the next year. Why do they migrate when they do?
Many people dislike the Blue Jay because it is known to eat the eggs and nestlings of other birds. However, in an extensive study of Blue Jay feeding habits, only 1% of jays had evidence of eggs or birds in their stomachs. Most of the diet was composed of insects and nuts.
The Blue Jay frequently mimics the calls of hawks, especially the Red-shouldered Hawk. It has been suggested that these calls provide information to other jays that a hawk is around, or that they are used to deceive other species into believing a hawk is present.
Tool use in birds is rare. Although no tool use has been reported for wild Blue Jays, captive jays used strips of newspaper to rake in food pellets from outside of their cages.
PaulH, Amadeo, siggi, Matt-Bird, Juyona, jaycee, cataclysta, vanderschelden, fartash, carper, nglen, rcrick, goldyrs, eqshannon, CeltickRanger, albert, maurydv, uleko, SelenE, Alex99, pierrefonds has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hola Mario, excelente fotografia.
Una exposición adecuada, con un fondo limpio, con tonos de color suaves y bien desenfocado.
Agradable y cuidada composición.
Un saludo

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2008-07-16 7:40]

Hello Mario,
Another one of your beautiful bluejays. Lovely colors, pose and a pretty background.
Regards
Siggi

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor [C: 2232 W: 10 N: 2971] (16891)
  • [2008-07-16 8:34]

Bella captura Mario,
perfecto foco y buen color,
bg hermoso.
Saludos

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2454 W: 10 N: 8044] (25460)
  • [2008-07-16 8:40]

Hi Mario,

I've never seen a BlueJay except in pictures so had no idea what their babies looked like. He is beautiful and this is such a wonderful shot. The clarity of the face and the plummage is marvelous. Every feather stands out. The colors are magnificent. You captured him in a lovely pose so we can see the juvenile colors and also the blue he will become.

Jane

Hello Mario,
A lot of detail and beautiful soft light in this image.
Well done
TFS
Annick

  • Great 
  • viv Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 292 W: 3 N: 653] (3317)
  • [2008-07-16 9:42]

Hi Mario,
Great shot, so sharp and full of details, I like your POV and BG.
Thanks
Vivian

Dear Mario
Very nice shot of this young Blue Jay ;O)
Great details,exposure and POV.Welldone my friend.

Good Luck
Fartash

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2008-07-16 11:00]

Hello Mario,
Fantastic photo of this Blue Jay in excellent sharpness, details and great clear colours. Superb POV, BG, pose and composition.
Regards,
Peter

  • Great 
  • carper Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1973 W: 119 N: 2582] (8439)
  • [2008-07-16 11:05]

a marvelous mario,
a fantstic pov, great quality and a good dof. Yes I like it a lot, what can I say more..... great photojob, have a nice evening.
gr., jaap

  • Great 
  • GLEM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 540 W: 87 N: 750] (10)
  • [2008-07-16 12:25]

salut Mario
splendide image d'une clareté exceptionnelle. La lumière apportée par le flash est parfaite, les couleurs du bg sont superbes.
bravo.

gl

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2883 W: 30 N: 9683] (36145)
  • [2008-07-16 12:58]

Hi Mario. You can see its a young birs with the soft looking feathers . a great close up showing sharp focusing and fine detail. your use of the light has given bright colours. well done TFS. good notes too.
Nick..

Hi Mario, love this bluejay... you have captured great and well focused detail to the bird. The eye contact and sharpness is spot on.

The composition is also very good, a very pleasing and well composed image. regards h

Hi,
On the road now with slow connection. Just marking up the best ones this time.
TFS
Pekka

Wow, you just keep getting better at this... if that is possible. Wonderful sharpness, simple effective composition and lovely OOF background.

TFS
Evelynn : )

Hi Mario,

Simply a stunning shot of this young Blue Jay, the detail is exceptional, wonderful colours, framing and composition all perfect, just wonderful well done,

Rick :)

  •      
  • goldyrs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 974 W: 51 N: 2913] (11497)
  • [2008-07-16 17:32]

Very tired and sleepy!
Will be back!
Goldy

More than anyone on TN, you alone know the Jay so well...I have seen a few real good TN'ers come VERY close but you still will win top prize. I have your photo on the lens in my mind every time I see a Jay! You 'Da Boss!
bob

salut Mario

superbe image d'un bel oiseau, excellent POV et cadrage vertical,
j'aimes ton background aux tonalités couleurs de pastel,
belle luminosité, excellente netteté et détails, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • horia Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2158 W: 224 N: 4749] (16656)
  • [2008-07-17 0:39]

Hi Mario

Nice to see you again, my friend!
Lovely shot of this blue jay...i remember seeing so many of them when i was in the US. Looking at this great shot, i'm a bit sorry that i didn't try and take a really nice shot :)
The details here are terrific - pin sharp - and the DOF is spot-on, blurring the BG smoothly and uniformly.
The light, colors and composition are all super and make this a stuning capture.

Bravo and TFS
Horia

Hi Mario,
Great scruffy lookin Blue Jay. A super sharp well defined photo.
regards
Matt.

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1137 W: 26 N: 3879] (13882)
  • [2008-07-17 1:07]

Amazing Mario, first class detail and clarity from your Canon combo. Perfect DOF, a lovely pose and great framing...doesn't get much better than this.
tfs
Paul

Bonjour
mario,
Superbe photo de ce blue jay juvénile
Tu as beaucoup de chance de pouvoir photographier de telles oiseaux dans ton jardin
Amitiés
Albert

Bellissima composizione per questa ghiandaia azzurra in una bella posa con un meraviglioso OOF BG, eccellente definizione dei dettagli. Grazie e complimenti. Ciao Maurizio

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2008-07-17 3:40]

Hello Mario,
I like the fluffy plumage indicating that this is a young one. Lovely capture, very clear details and beautiful colours. A very nice background too!
TFS and regards, Ulla

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2008-07-17 4:10]

Salut Mario,simplement magnifique,la meilleure galerie des oiseux ici sans doute,mes plus gros compliments pour cette autre oeuvre artistique,Luciano

Hi Mario
I agree with Paul - PERFECT Firs of all beautiful color of the OOF background Also great pose and razor sharpness. Photo of the day
Best wishes
Krzysztof

Hi Mario

Fantastic portrait
Great composition
Excellent sharpness
Good POV and DOF
Good background

Chris

Hi Mario,
I especially like the bg complimentary to Bluejay.Nice soft sutble which makes Mr. Jay standout.. Superb details and interesting read.. The call a jay makes is obnoxious IMO mind you..
Well taken.OOps wanted to mention excellent choice of frame..

Best regards,
Jane

  • Great 
  • SelenE Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2249 W: 65 N: 4205] (13972)
  • [2008-07-17 10:57]

Hi Mario,
Very nice portrait of this blue fellow. I like the details on the plumage, frontal POV and the colorful background. TFS
All the best,
Selen

A perfectly composed image Mario. Nice background colour.Keeping the stump it is perched on at the bottom is a nice touch. Very good shot.
D

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2008-07-18 0:25]

Hi Mario.
Both young Jay and colourful BG are amazing. Fantastic details of the bird. Wonderful colouration of the absolutely smooth BG. Bravo and kind regards.
Alexei.

Salut Mario
Elle est vraiment Impressionante cette photo !
les details de son plumage et la couleur de l'oiseau sont superbes ainsi que le BG qui est superbe.
C'est vraiment un beau cliché.
Merci et bravo...JP

Bonjour Mario,

Ce geai bleu semble surpris par la situation. Tu as bien saisi son expression de stupeur. Les détails et les couleurs des plumes de l'oiseau sont clairs et nets. Le sujet est bien cadré. La bonne luminosité a un bel effet sur les couleurs. Bonne journée.

Pierre

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