Blue Jays and Crows in Peaceful Coexistence (sort of)
About 9 months ago, I asked why I only get blue jays eating the peanuts that I’ve been putting out for the corvids. I got a ton of good advice and lots of stories from people.
Since then, yes, I wrapped the corners of the bird feeder post with black electrical tape to make sure no one gets their feet stuck. I also started tossing peanuts straight into the yard, making sure the blue jays and crows see me do it. The blue jays screech at me when they see me. I tell them whether they can have more or tell them they’ve had enough. (Neither stops the screeching of course.) If they can have more, I make sure they can see me as I toss peanuts into the yard.
For the longest time, when I’d open the door to toss out the peanuts, the crows (if nearby) would fly away and the screeching blue jays would gather up and cache all the peanuts one-by-one. Well, in the last few weeks, the crows have caught on. They still fly a bit away when I open the door, but they stay within sight. When I can no longer be seen, *even through the door* they join in the peanut hunt.
Now, everyone searches for their peanuts peacefully. Well, as peacefully as possible when blue jays are involved. Amazingly, they’re somehow even louder when the crows are in the yard gathering peanuts. But, nobody dive bombs anyone and everyone seems to have no trouble finding and collecting their peanuts. Video evidence attached.