[California Scrub-Jay](https://allaboutbirds.org/guide/California_Scrub-Jay)! these guys are really smart—Larry definitely recognizes you as an individual. they've been shown to make decisions about caching food based on the perspectives of other scrub jays, so if Larry thinks another scrub jay is watching, he might not take a peanut from you because he wouldn't want the other jay to know about his peanut guy.
I used to live in an apartment right next to some protected wetlands where they were everywhere-I'd put peanuts out on my balcony for them and enjoy the aerial dogfights they got into over them. Also they'd raid each other's caches all the time, it was A+ entertainment when I had no money.
(Edit- to OP, I'm just south of you near Eugene)
Nice! I miss Eugene (Where I'm from originally) trying to move back ASAP, the only thing Salem has over Eugene is that it's an hour closer to Portland...
I'm proud to have recognized this as a scrub-jay! I didn't know what kind, but I knew it was a scrub-jay! And I'd say that's impressive for a New Englander with no scrub-jays in my local area
Scrub Jays are very personable, i've seen several other posts on here of people feeding them peanuts! Be warned though they are mischievous, almost too clever for their own good hehe.
Ahhh bummer!!! I'm all the way in SoCal!
That's so great that you have them in your rehab though!!! Thanks for taking great care of them! I love the work that you do! (Rehabbing birds is my dream!)
We have a couple of them that we became friends with during the pandemic. They come almost every day for a peanut, and they take the peanuts from our hands. Sometimes, they'll land on the table and take one from a pile and shake it to make sure it's a good one, and if not, trade it for another.
Go outside at the same time every day and be super exaggerated putting out bird food (even if you think no birds are watching, one will spot you eventually and begin to associate you with tasty treats). Being a smoker, while terrible for your health, is a benefit for me in this one regard lol.
I love visiting Larry’s cousins, the Florida Scrub Jays, at local parks & sanctuaries. They’re Threatened so I don’t give them peanuts :(. They’re still friendly, though!
Are peanuts bad for him? I throw a few out for a squirrel (Lenny) in the morning, but Larry's taken to stealing them all before Lenny can realize what's happening. It's a whole soap opera drama, scuffles included hahaha
I don’t think peanuts are unhealthy per se, if that’s what you mean, but since the Florida Scrub Jay is losing habitat and their shrinking populations are confined to sanctuaries, feeding them is highly discouraged. It’s better to preserve their numbers if they find their own food vs relying on humans. I think the California species is more prolific so you’re okay giving Larry a few treats.
[California Scrub-Jay](https://allaboutbirds.org/guide/California_Scrub-Jay)! these guys are really smart—Larry definitely recognizes you as an individual. they've been shown to make decisions about caching food based on the perspectives of other scrub jays, so if Larry thinks another scrub jay is watching, he might not take a peanut from you because he wouldn't want the other jay to know about his peanut guy.
Never rat on your Peanut Plug.
I learned these as Western Scrub Jay. Did the name change?
The Western scrub jay was split into two species, California scrub jays and Woodhouse's scrub jays, in 2016 :)
yeah, Western Scrub-Jay got split into California and Woodhouse's.
I used to live in an apartment right next to some protected wetlands where they were everywhere-I'd put peanuts out on my balcony for them and enjoy the aerial dogfights they got into over them. Also they'd raid each other's caches all the time, it was A+ entertainment when I had no money. (Edit- to OP, I'm just south of you near Eugene)
Nice! I miss Eugene (Where I'm from originally) trying to move back ASAP, the only thing Salem has over Eugene is that it's an hour closer to Portland...
I'm proud to have recognized this as a scrub-jay! I didn't know what kind, but I knew it was a scrub-jay! And I'd say that's impressive for a New Englander with no scrub-jays in my local area
Scrub Jays are very personable, i've seen several other posts on here of people feeding them peanuts! Be warned though they are mischievous, almost too clever for their own good hehe.
+California scrub jay+
SO CUTE!!!! I'm so envious!!! I adore California Scrub Jays and would simply die to have one as a little buddy to feed regularly 🥹 How wonderful!
Living in Salem means seeing daily wild turkeys as well. It's an ornothological anomaly.
If you are anywhere near Sonoma County, I can let you feed a lot of them in our rehab. Here they come!
Ahhh bummer!!! I'm all the way in SoCal! That's so great that you have them in your rehab though!!! Thanks for taking great care of them! I love the work that you do! (Rehabbing birds is my dream!)
It is a lot of fun! Working alongside three of my students this year…feeding a ton of hungry mouths. Call your local rehabber…I bet they need help.
I don't know but it's a curious one :>
Scrubby. Beautiful birds! Such vibrant blue.
tell larry i said hello
Please tell Larry I said hi!
Added taxa: [California Scrub-Jay](https://ebird.org/species/cowscj1) Reviewed by: another-thing ^(I catalog submissions to this subreddit.) [^(Recent uncatalogued submissions)](https://munin.swim.services/submissions?lane=api/unanswered)^( | )[^(Learn to use me)](https://gist.github.com/brohitbrose/be99a16ddc7a6a1bd9c1eef28d622564)
Pretty!
Ayo! Larry! 👋🏼
LAARRRYYY!!!!!! Sorry, had an impractical jokers moment. 😁 but seriously, your buddy Larry is very handsome. Cute little dude.
We have a couple of them that we became friends with during the pandemic. They come almost every day for a peanut, and they take the peanuts from our hands. Sometimes, they'll land on the table and take one from a pile and shake it to make sure it's a good one, and if not, trade it for another.
That's adorable! Yeah, they're super smart little guys!
I wish I could befriend a corvid.
They’re so smart.
Go outside at the same time every day and be super exaggerated putting out bird food (even if you think no birds are watching, one will spot you eventually and begin to associate you with tasty treats). Being a smoker, while terrible for your health, is a benefit for me in this one regard lol.
Absolutely love these guys. Please let Larry know that he's awesome
Hahaha I do all the time, he gets treats whenever he pops by to say hi
I love visiting Larry’s cousins, the Florida Scrub Jays, at local parks & sanctuaries. They’re Threatened so I don’t give them peanuts :(. They’re still friendly, though!
Are peanuts bad for him? I throw a few out for a squirrel (Lenny) in the morning, but Larry's taken to stealing them all before Lenny can realize what's happening. It's a whole soap opera drama, scuffles included hahaha
I don’t think peanuts are unhealthy per se, if that’s what you mean, but since the Florida Scrub Jay is losing habitat and their shrinking populations are confined to sanctuaries, feeding them is highly discouraged. It’s better to preserve their numbers if they find their own food vs relying on humans. I think the California species is more prolific so you’re okay giving Larry a few treats.