Replying to Avatar GryphθΔ

After a while, he was always around. Visiting us a few times a day, and always making a ruckus when he did. Soon, a second Steller's Jay showed up, which I dubbed Blue Gal.

I believe her to be the mated partner of Blue Guy. She had a beak injury which made it hard for her to eat, and Blue Guy always shoved her out of the way of the food dish if she was eating too slowly. I made sure to always leave enough for her to eat. She was more skittish, and never cresty, always cautious and alert, eating and leaving quickly, silently.

Here you can see Blue Gal, then Blue Guy realizing Blue Gal was eating without him and barging in. Guess what nut he picked after looking into the food bowl? That's right, it was a walnut.

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GryphθΔ 2y ago

Getting to watch these birds closely taught me so much about how extremely intelligent corvids can be. Blue Guy would stash the walnuts nearby, and I'd often see him come back and snack on them.

The mated pair would scavenge for worms in the dirt near me as I did my work on a laptop outside on a patio. I truly loved these two birds, and would have done anything for them. I watched them solve problems, have relationship arguments, bicker and beak, and most intimate of all, fly together.

#birds #photography #NaturePhotography #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography

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GryphθΔ 2y ago

All of this took place in the course of one month, and unfortunately, it was time for me to move out.

I cried saying goodbye to Blue Guy and Blue Gal, leaving out a heaping serving of his favorite nuts (walnuts) and departing, seeing him screech one last time before I went.

I don't know how he's doing, if he's alive, or anything else about him. I know some things absolutely: I love them both, and Blue Guy will always live in my heart. I hope Blue Guy can live on in others hearts as well. Remember: birds are not replaceable clones of eachother, nor a hivemind; each individual is unspeakably beautiful and unique, just as personalitied as you and I.

#birds #photography #NaturePhotography #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography