~Update on our resident Steller's Jay~
It's with heavy hearts that we announce the passing this week of Nugget, our resident Steller's Jay. Nugget was found as a young bird begging for food and was obviously used to being around humans, so we deduce that he was raised as a pet. Because he didn’t know how to forage for food, he came to live at NIWRA.
Named the provincial bird of B.C. in 1987, Steller’s jays are excellent mimics with a large repertoire; they can imitate birds, squirrels, cats, dogs, chickens and some mechanical objects.
They are part of the Corvid family of birds along with ravens and crows. The oldest recorded Steller’s jay lived to age 16.
Named after German botanist/explorer Georg Steller, Steller’s jays are generalist foragers; they eat insects, seeds, berries, nuts and small animals. They are notorious nest robbers, stealing eggs and nestlings. They will also eat garbage, unguarded picnic items and bird feeder fare such as peanuts, sunflower seeds and suet.
Everyone at NIWRA is going to miss Nugget.
You can help the wildlife in care at NIWRA by making a financial contribution on our secure website. Thank you so much for caring about wildlife!
