Day 127: When the discussion turns to Steller's Jays (and many other corvids for that matter), you will find that there is a sharp dividing line between camps. People either love them or hate them, seemingly without any middle ground. True, their voices are harsh and scolding, but what they lack in musical ability is more than balanced by the color they bring to the yard. They are not particularly aggressive as some people claim. In fact, I have seen Juncoes a quarter their size chase them out of the feeders. They are polite guests at the table, unlike the Rufous-sided Towhees who scratch and kick seed out of the trays, and their ability to mimic a Red-tailed Hawk's call keeps the other birds on their toes. I am quite fond of my Steller-fellers (named for German naturalist Georg Steller), and love having them around.
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