Gray jay

[Alastair]

I see the Royal Geographical Society of Canada has chosen the Gray Jay as Canada's National Bird.

You can learn more about this wee bird at: http://www.electriccanadian.com/lifestyle/grayjay.htm

Alastair

[Alastair]

Re: Gray jay

Sixteen reasons why this is a good choice...

1) Found in all thirteen provinces and territories; it is only barely found in the U.S., in the Rocky Mt region and Alaska
2) A member of the corvid family, arguably the smartest birds on the planet;
3) Extremely friendly toward humans like all Canadians, often found panhandling on cross-country ski trails;
4) Very hardy like all Canadians, having highly adapted itself to living in very cold regions;
5) Figures strongly in First Nations folklore, also called the whiskey jack;
6) Is not an endangered species and thus, not at risk of disappearing;
7) Figures prominently in the boreal forest ecological zone, constituting a vast portion of our country worthy of protection and under pressure from clear-cutting and oil and gas development;
8) Not a hunted species, so it is not shot by Canadians;
9) Not an official bird species for any of the ten provinces and recognized territories nor any other country (common loon is Ontario’s bird; snowy owl is Quebec’s bird)
10) Formerly called the Canada jay by ornithologists; its French name is mésangeai du Canada and its Latin name is Perisoreus panadensis!)
11) Stays in Canada year-round
12) Not flamboyant in its appearance, best representing the conservative nature of Canadians!
13) Not regarded as an obnoxious or nuisance species (like the Canada goose which is culled in the U.S.!)
14) Cannot be confused with any other bird species (99.6% of Canadians cannot tell the difference between a raven and a crow!)
15) Not a circumpolar species, i.e. not found in other northern countries (as is the snowy owl and raven)
16) Doesn't look like any other bird species and thus, cannot be misidentified

In short, I cannot think of a more Canadian bird!!!

Alastair

[Rick]

Re: Gray jay

Yes, good choice. We call them "Whiskey Jacks" (but "Whisky Jacks" would work as well). We loved them as kids because they'd take pieces of bread from our fingers and help themselves at the table when we were eating outside.

[Glesgalass]

Re: Gray jay

So what does it look like?

Elda

[sandyc]

Re: Gray jay

Here you go Elda

[Alastair]

Re: Gray jay

Click on the link Elda and you'll see both pictures and videos of it.

Alastair