I am concerned - there are bluejays making a nest in our Yews which is right next to our hummer garden...They are chasing away other birds and there is much squawking going on...also there is one very upset morning dove who also has some long weeds in her beak and looks very angry sitting on top of the hummer feeder pole in the middle of the garden. Should I do something? If so what? Or just hold my breath all will be well - I don't really want to upset nature or disturb her nest but it is making me antsy...

Carol
Milford, CT
Zone 6

Carol, I have seen our bluejays raid robin's nests for eggs. But have no idea about the hummers. Maybe your local county extension office or a local state park could help? Perhaps Nancy will see this and advise you. Sorry.

kathy t.
shebly twp., MI
Zone 5/6

I know that jays can be mean and aggressive but I haven't personally had a problem here but then they aren't nesting in or near my yard.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

There is at least one record I know of in the literature of a blue jay taking an adult hummingbird. I'm sure this is a very infrequent occurence, but blue jays are opportunists.

Donald

Zone 4 Red Wing MN

I've personnaly seen Scrub Jays take baby Hummers from the nest,But then again I don't think Hummers will nest in a feeding area.

Alan~S Cal

Thanks everyone - I know I won't have a nesting hummer here so am not concerned that way but just didn't know whether they would be a problem if a hummer was at the hummingbird feeder. Don't want to scare off any early male hummer arrival! They need all the welcome they can get!

Carol
Milford, CT
Zone 6

Carol-- I dont have or havent seen any bluejays here, but I do have a similar problem, as a robin has built a nest in my guttering right above the pc window where I always hang hummer feeders, I see this as a potential problem as there is high bird activity in my front yard at this time. The robin considers the redwinged blackbird a threat as Ive seen her running those off. Plus the robin goes to the tree and squawks at me every time Im outside. I will have feeders on my back porch for the hummers so they will have a place to feed in peace. It just doesnt seem right that after having window feeders for 6 yrs that I will have to remove them because of territoriality or mother hen syndrome.

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

Carol, I'm so glad you posted this! We have blue jays building a nest in a tree directly above where the hummer feeder is hanging. And right about the time they started the nest we stopped seeing hummers. I was literally just about to post a message asking for input on what the heck might be happening in my yard. We had 3 hummers, plus that mystery hummer, and then two days later none and have seen only one in the past week.
dell

I can't stand Blue Jays or Crows. I'm lucky we don't have any in our area. Back in Florida they were horrid. We have Crows here, but my 9mm has kept them away from our yard. (It's loud) I just can't abide nest robbers. Now I'm having to deal with Cowbirds, ack! Parasites.

Maryjane
W Ga
Zone 8a

yeah cowbirds! When one shows up, you know the jerk is going to find 8 of his buds to bring back with him. grrrr

I have seen Jays try to take hummingbirds in my yard. The thing is that they look very similar to the dragon flies that the Blue Jays take out of the air too. So I am unsure whether it is a case of mistaken identity or if they think the hummers are a tasty treat.



Steve Kapusta

Zone 6a Windsor, Ontario
Hummingbird Bander - Ontario Hummingbird Project
www.ontariohummingbirds.ca

Carol, Blue Jays do pose a threat to hummingbirds, but I suspect in your situation, it is a minimal threat. Most nesting birds, including Blue Jays and Mourning Doves, will be aggressive toward interlopers to their 'personal space'. Since you don't have nesting hummers, their aggressiveness will be limited.

Here, I see Blue Jays chasing after hummers in late summer when there are lots of 17-year Cicadas around. I think they are mistaking the hummers for the insects. I've never seen a jay catch a hummer but I suspect it can happen from time to time. That said, jays are predators and opportunists.

Once, many years ago, there was a Green Jay in our area. It was living in a yard that manufactured cinder blocks. I personally witnessed it killing a House Sparrow.

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Nancy L Newfield
Casa Colibrí
Metairie, Louisiana USA
USDA Zone 9