I had seen recent e-mail reports that a couple of vagrant blue jays had been seen in the Treasure Valley, but due to time commitments to family and work I didn't see an opportunity to go chasing after new life birds. About a week later, while up at Avimor, I happened upon Michael Wiegand who informed me that a Blue Jay had been hanging out at his place in Pearl. Immediately I determined to take the long-way back from Avimor to the office. It was a slow Friday anyway, so what would it hurt!
The Blue Jay was heard before it was seen. I didn't recognize the sound as being a Blue Jay, I just knew it was different. After about ten minutes it popped out into the open to munch on Michael's abundance of seed.
Blue Jay's are a beautiful bird and I understand that they are very common in other parts of the country, but I was grateful to see one for myself since becoming a birder.
