I like the fact that jays "cache" acorns, one of their favourite foods, by hiding them in the soil. Someone who observed this behaviour noted that the acorns were "planted" the ideal distance apart for growing into a mature oak tree, should the jay forget where he'd stashed them... I've not seen a jay in Ireland yet, though they're apparently to be found in deciduous woodland around here.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
I've got a small oak in a pot that came from a jay stashed acorn. Now a hazel has grown up in with it which I assume was from a nut stashed in the pot by a nuthatch.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
I have jays in my garden each year. Gorgeous colouring. They visit the feeders early in the morning, stuff their beaks with fat ball food, take it away to stash before returning, several times to repeat the exercise. The small birds wait until they have gone before moving in. I have fitted a squirrel baffle on the upright post of my feeder to deter rats which were clearing the feeder every day. It has been very successful. I did have a laugh watching a persistent rat trying to find a way around it, without success. Well worth the £15.00 spent.
"I like the fact that jays "cache" acorns, one of their favourite foods,
by hiding them in the soil. Someone who observed this behaviour noted
that the acorns were "planted" the ideal distance apart for growing into
a mature oak tree, should the jay forget where he'd stashed them".
@steephill Jays in particular are responsible for much of the oaks' reproduction systems in the UK. Jays choose acorns to stash at a particular point of softness, that is viable when planted. Squirrels, for example, prefer acorns at a different stage and they don't germinate so well. Acorns buried in thorny scrub are then protected from grazing animals and we get a new oak tree.
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I've not seen a jay in Ireland yet, though they're apparently to be found in deciduous woodland around here.