BWCA Whiskeyjacks/Gray Jays/Canadian Jays Boundary Waters Listening Point - General Discussion
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MikeinMpls
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06/19/2018 04:05PM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Where have they gone? I used to see these birds all the time. I love their soft song, simple as it is. But I did a solo 10 days ago and it dawned on me: I haven't seen one of these birds for years. 20-30 years ago they seemed to be present on every trip. They certainly ate a lot of my raisins over the years.

Thoughts on this?

Mike
 
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mgraber
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06/19/2018 05:05PM  
My wife and I were recently talking about the same thing. It would be interesting to know what happened.
 
06/19/2018 05:48PM  
We hadn't been seeing many either, but the last couple trips we're starting to see them again.
This one was on the South Arm of Knife in late May.
 
06/19/2018 08:20PM  
I looked them up on the site “All About Birds” and it stated they were a species of “low concern” meaning not threatened like the California Condor or something.
It did say they have been staying north of the border recently because of the tariffs and name calling by the President.
 
06/19/2018 08:33PM  
We saw a pair a couple weeks ago. Not in camp but flying along the shore as we paddled by. May have been along Finger Creek.
 
06/19/2018 11:51PM  
In 2016 I was nine days into a trip before I saw the first Gray Jay. I thought that unusual. On the other hand I had Merlins nesting near island campsites on both Long Island Lake and Cherokee Lake. There may be a correlation.
 
06/20/2018 03:31AM  
Zulu: "I looked them up on the site “All About Birds” and it stated they were a species of “low concern” meaning not threatened like the California Condor or something.
It did say they have been staying north of the border recently because of the tariffs and name calling by the President."




I suppose just the thought of being put in seperate bird cages scares them off.
 
06/20/2018 06:01AM  
I saw my first and only along the Frost River route, quite a surprise.
 
tumblehome
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06/20/2018 07:58AM  
They have never been common to see in the many trips I've done. I dont see them more than I do see them. The bwca is near the end of their southern range. I did see one in Duluth in my lifetime. They are not looking hard for food in the summer so they dont hang around campsites like in the early spring or fall.
Tom
 
tumblehome
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06/20/2018 07:58AM  
They have never been common to see in the many trips I've done. I dont see them more than I do see them. The bwca is near the end of their southern range. I did see one in Duluth in my lifetime. They are not looking hard for food in the summer so they dont hang around campsites like in the early spring or fall.
Tom
 
06/20/2018 08:23AM  
MikeinMpls: "Where have they gone? I used to see these birds all the time. I love their soft song, simple as it is. But I did a solo 10 days ago and it dawned on me: I haven't seen one of these birds for years. 20-30 years ago they seemed to be present on every trip. They certainly ate a lot of my raisins over the years.

Thoughts on this?

Mike"


First of all, the B.W. is about the southern most part of their range. Because they tend to store caches of food in trees to get them through the winter, the belief is that climate change is compromising these food sources and forcing them further north.
 
MikeinMpls
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06/20/2018 12:11PM  
I wasn't aware of their range, and considering comments above, I can see why they've been scarce. Maybe I'll see one next month when I go.

Mike
 
missmolly
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06/20/2018 01:14PM  
Freddy: "
MikeinMpls: "Where have they gone? I used to see these birds all the time. I love their soft song, simple as it is. But I did a solo 10 days ago and it dawned on me: I haven't seen one of these birds for years. 20-30 years ago they seemed to be present on every trip. They certainly ate a lot of my raisins over the years.


Thoughts on this?


Mike"



First of all, the B.W. is about the southern most part of their range. Because they tend to store caches of food in trees to get them through the winter, the belief is that climate change is compromising these food sources and forcing them further north."


In Maine, we're seeing and hearing birds that are new to us. We assume they're coming from the south.
 
ozarkpaddler
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06/20/2018 04:35PM  
tumblehome: "They have never been common to see in the many trips I've done. I dont see them more than I do see them. The bwca is near the end of their southern range. I did see one in Duluth in my lifetime. They are not looking hard for food in the summer so they dont hang around campsites like in the early spring or fall.
Tom "


That's funny because my wife and I were talking about it a few years ago. We used to have a few in camp, EVERY CAMP, in the '80's through '90's but noticed fewer also. I just assumed they were always numerous in the Arrowhead? I recall having them perch on a frying pan, our shoulders, etc.
 
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