Blue Jay Fledglings

First flight

I took the garbage out this morning and noticed a young Blue Jay sitting on the roof of my car. For some time I had suspected there was a nest in the Norway Maple that shades our driveway. Two days earlier, another fledgling dropped on the other side of the fence from the same tree into our back yard. It has been hiding in a shrub while the parents continue to feed it. 

How to get up?

I startled the young fledgling and it dropped to the driveway before flying up to the license plate holder of the car in the first photo. It could only fly about half a metre higher than it was perched. Eventually it found its way to a shrub in the front yard. 

Parent communicating to fledgling in a shrub below

The parents have been diligently caring for the fledged birds, communicating with them quietly from a perch on a tree or the fence. The adults are loudly vocal if I come too close or if a squirrel enters the yard. (Our squirrel, and rabbit population is greatly decreased since the family of foxes started hunting in the neighbourhood. I only saw one squirrel today.)

Young Blue Jays leave the nest 17 to 21 days after they hatch and may not be able to fly for another 5 days. While it may be tempting to capture one while they are vulnerable, they are best left in the care of their parents. 

Young fledgling will stay put for a few more days

The Jays got used to my presence in the back yard eventually, especially when I left some much appreciated cherries on a fence post for them. I was able to take this picture of the backyard fledgling as it sat in the forsythia bush, silent and unmoving. Blue Jays usually have more than two eggs and there may be more young birds to observe as the week progresses. It was a treat to watch them on a quiet weekend afternoon. 

Vigilant Parent