As some of the most colorful birds found in the wild, Blue Jays are popular for bird watchers to spot and want to attract to their yard. This article offers a listing of the best Blue Jay bird feeders, ordered by popularity.
We also provided tips on what to look for when buying a Blue Jay bird feeder, how to attract Blue Jays to your yard, and some Blue Jay FAQs.
Top 7 Best Blue Jay Bird Feeders
- Songbird Essentials Whole Peanut Wreath Feeder 008072. Wild Bird Feeders And Accessories
- Manufacturer: SONGBIRD ESSENTIALS
- Manufacturer part number: SE6019
- FALL IN LOVE WITH NATURE: Attract wild birds to your backyard, patio, garden, deck, or any outdoor space by hanging this premium quality platform bird feeder station and filling it with seeds. Watch...
- DURABLE AND PRACTICAL: This bird feeder tray is crafted from heavy duty steel mesh and coated with rust-resistant black powder for maximum all-weather durability. The sturdy double-loop hanging chains...
- DIMENSIONS AND HEIGHT: The round bird feeder dish measures 9.2 inches in diameter. Three 19-inch long chains allow a vertical hanging height of 21 inches. This premium-quality hanging feeder comes...
- EASY TO CLEAN AND WASH: No worries if bird droppings, dust or left-overs stick to the garden bird feeder tray and make it look dirty. Just turn the bird feeder tray face down and hose off the muck....
- MONEY BACK GUARANTEE: GrayBunny offers premium products for your lawn and patio while exceeding highest industry standards and offering impeccable customer care. If you'd like your money back at any...
- CLEAR VIEWING OF BEAUTIFUL BIRDS IN VIVID DETAIL - With a tray that holds up to 3 cups of seed, watch cardinals, blue jays, finches, juncos, chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, sparrows and more enjoy...
- STICKS TO WINDOWS FOR LONGER - Where most feeders only come with 3 suction cups with moderate adhesion, this feeder is specially designed to come with four extra strong suction cups to keep it...
- BUILT TO LAST IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS - Each feeder is made from only the most heavy duty and shatterproof acrylic so that it can last through diverse conditions for many seasons to come.
- MAKES FOR THE PERFECT GIFT - Whether for a nature lover, a bird aficionado, curious child or that special someone, this feeder makes for a great gift for the holidays, a birthday, housewarming and...
- WORKS OR YOUR MONEY BACK - We want you to shop confidently with us. That's why we offer an unmatched satisfaction guarantee to go with our best-in-class customer service. If you decide for any reason...
- Attract a wide variety of birds with a tray feeder
- Can hold bird seed or fruit
- Perfect for accommodating large birds
- Mesh bottom drains water to keep seed dry & fresh
- 1.6 lb. seed capacity
- Country of origin is United States
- The package dimension of the product is 14"L x 14"W x 3.8"H
- The package weight of the product is 2.1 pounds
- ADJUSTABLE: Protective dome is height adjustable to selectively screen out certain sizes of birds. Leave the cover open to invite all birds in or slide it down to exclude larger birds
- SPECIFICATIONS: Dome cover is 10-inches in diameter. Platform tray holds up to 1 pound of bird feed
- OUTDOOR USE: UV-Stabilized clear polycarbonate feeder tray and cover won't yellow from sunlight exposure and are dependably durable
- WARRANTY: Backed by Droll Yankees Lifetime against any and all squirrel damage
- MADE IN USA: Since 1969 all Droll Yankees products have been proudly made in the USA
- 2 FEEDERS INCLUDED: Built with 4 total hooks to place the included feeding accessories - a tube feeder and suet feeder - plus feeders you may already have. A water bowl/bird bath and food tray are...
- MULTIPURPOSE HOOKS: The adjustable top hooks are perfect for hopper, tube, and Nyjer feeders that attract small birds while another set of adjustable hooks are perfect for a hanging planter or your...
- 82 INCHES ABOVE GROUND: Attract a variety of wild birds and watch them feed in the backyard or garden from the comfort of your home through a window, or from a patio or deck.
- STURDY & DURABLE: 4-prong base includes ground stakes that insert deep into the grass for stability even as breezy winds pass, and the rust-resistant steel is made to have feathery friends stopping by...
- EASY ASSEMBLY: Set it up in as little as 15 minutes! Simply tighten the wingnuts to each part to secure them in your desired location before staking the pole in the ground.; OVERALL DIMENSIONS:...
Buying A Blue Jay Bird Feeder: Things To Consider
If you want Blue Jays to enjoy their stay in your yard, you’ll need to make sure that you have space for these fairly big birds. Some of the best Blue Jay bird feeders are platform feeders. These are a great choice, to give them a bit of room and enough support. You’ll also want to remember that these are territorial birds, loyal to the spouse and fairly fierce about their nest.
Food Choices
Unsalted, roasted peanuts made for bird feeders are the number one choice when picking out food for your blue jay feeder. Jays have a strong need for protein, so be ready to add suet and mealworms to your feeder. It doesn’t take too many days of an empty feeder to let jays know they need to look elsewhere, so be sure to keep an eye on the feeder and fill it up when it gets low.
To keep jays so happy in your yard that they build a nest, put out
- unsalted, roasted peanuts
- dried berries and wild grapes
- cracked corn and sunflower seeds
- suet and mealworms
Avoid any roasted nuts with too much salt or spice on them.
Feeder Style
Jays are fairly heavy and may not be comfortable on a hanging feeder. They also don’t like to eat off the ground. Platform feeders and pole feeders are a great choice for keeping neighborhood jays happy, though they will also dine off a peanut wreath.
Bird Personality
The blue jay can be a difficult bird once you have them in your yard. They’re quite territorial and can make life hard for other birds, especially smaller ones. If you want many birds, including jays, to visit, eat well and stay, you’re going to need to separate them.
Consider setting up hanging feeders and feeders constructed of fine mesh as far from the jay feeder as possible. Jays are big enough to feel uncomfortable on a hanging feeder, and they can’t access food from fine mesh feeders. Additionally, as they prefer the bigger seed of peanuts, hopefully, they’ll leave the fine birdseed alone and allow smaller birds to feed away from their space.
Nesting Habits
If neighborhood jays decide your yard is a good place to eat, they may want to nest there as well. If you have an oak tree, you’re all set. Oaks offer ideal cover for a jay nest and provide enough height where your new roomie can survey the territory and drive off competitors. They also love acorns.
If you want jays to nest in your yard but don’t have any oaks, conifers and other tall trees can also work. Don’t be too diligent about picking up twigs and grass clippings; female jays will put these construction materials to work to build a nest.
For those hoping for a wide variety of nests in their yard, be aware that jays can destroy the nests of other birds. They will either go after the eggs for food, or they will tear apart other jay nests to take out the competition. Once you have nesting jays, other birds may not be able to safely nest in your yard.
Support the Family
Blue Jays mate for life. If your yard is blessed with a blue jay nest, don’t try to check it out. Firstly, it will be too high to get to safely, and secondly, jays can be incredibly territorial, particularly when they’re nesting. They’re not prone to cavity-nesting, so if you have binoculars you can probably study their nests in safety.
In North America, blue jay nests and fledglings can be seen from around March until around July. However, as some jays migrate and some don’t. Make sure you provide food all year round so your yard has the best nesting appeal.
Don’t Forget Water
All birds need water, to splash, drink, and bathe in. The blue jay is a vigorous bather, so you’ll need at least three inches of water in the birdbath to keep them happy. You’ll also need to keep an eye on it because they can empty it with their activity.
If you live in the north where there’s a risk of an overnight freeze, add a warmer to the birdbath to keep the water open. There are many wired options, but if you don’t have access to power in that part of your yard, there are battery-powered and solar options. If the bath gets full sun, get a dark basin, and add warm water on the coldest days.
A blue jay family in your yard can actually be quite fun. Yes, they are territorial. The dispute between a squirrel and a big blue jay over peanuts can be quite entertaining. Give your jays the right food and a tall tree to nest in, then sit back and enjoy the show.
How To Attract Blue Jays To Your Backyard
Some lucky homeowners don’t have to attract blue jays, for one day these birds just showed up in their yard and stayed. People who aren’t lucky enough to have jays as regular guests or residents wonder why this is.
Here are some tips to attract these admittedly loud, smart birds with their fantastic blue plumage and crested heads:
Offer the Right Foods
In relation to other songbirds, the blue jay is a big bird, so it needs big provender. Canary seeds hold little attraction for it, though it’ll eat it in a pinch. What draws the blue jay are big nuts and seeds such as peanuts in the shell, beechnuts, hickory nuts and acorns, and substantial fruits such as blackberries, muscadine grapes, and cherries. Nuts should be unsalted but roasted. Jays have bills that are strong enough to crack acorns and peanut shells with no problem.
Blue Jays also go for black oil sunflower seeds, a favorite of almost all songbirds, cracked corn, and suet. They’ll also take insects and are a big help when it comes to ridding the garden of insect pests. Because jays are so big and heavy, the homeowner needs to put the food out on a platform feeder. They will see the bird eat one seed or nut after another. What it’s doing is storing them in its throat sac so it can take them away and hide them for later.
Ideally, a platform feeder (one of the best Blue Jay bird feeders) should be placed in a way that follows the five/seven/nine rule. That means the tray should be at least five feet above the ground, seven feet from the nearest structure or tree and nine feet beneath a tree branch, an overhanging eave, or the slats in a pergola. This discourages squirrels, even though a hungry squirrel is ingenious when it comes to stealing food. Another way to put squirrels off blue jay food is to sprinkle it with hot pepper. Squirrels hate it, but the bird doesn’t care.
Platform feeders shouldn’t be hung in a way that lets them swing, for the bird won’t feel secure when it comes to feeding. Jays like to jump right into their food and pick around to find the best bits. The feeder also shouldn’t be put too far away from a tree or shrub so the bird can’t quickly find shelter if it senses danger. The platform also needs to be placed in the shade.
Provide Water
The blue jay not only needs water to drink but loves to bathe, so a birdbath should be deep and wide. Since they notoriously travel in flocks, the birdbath should be big enough to accommodate a lot of birds. Since jays stay in the same place all year, the homeowner should invest in a heated birdbath to keep the much-needed water from freezing in the winter months. Make sure that the water is changed daily.
Plant the Right Trees
It’s possible that the homeowner who didn’t have to entice jays to their backyard planted the right trees long ago. The birds love acorns, so oak trees are a good idea. They also nest in trees as opposed to boxes, so mature oak trees are good places to build a nest, as are hickory and beech trees. Jays also tuck acorns and seeds in the crevices they find in the trees. Since they’re birds of the forest, the trees and shrubbery should be planted fairly close together to make a woodland garden.
Don’t Tidy Up
Besides the right tree, blue jays appreciate a lot of leaf litter, for they’ll cache seeds and acorns here as well. Jays, like squirrels, sometimes forget where they put things, and this promotes the germination of oaks and other needful plants.
Provide Nesting Material
Not tidying up the yard too much also encourages jays to stick around. They use discarded twigs and sticks to build their nests. If the homeowner wants, they can offer a nesting platform, but it has to be large, sturdy, and able to fit securely in a tree. The best time to offer nesting material is from early spring into mid-summer. This is also the time to put out more feeders, and scatter some blue jay food on the ground.
Don’t Get Too Close
Though there are birds who will take food from a person’s hand, the blue jay isn’t one of them. They won’t eat if they sense that a human is around and may actually dive-bomb a person who gets too close either to their source of food or their nest. It’s always best to watch jays do their thing from a window.
Blue Jay Only Feeding Area
It must be said that Blue Jays can be aggressive. Besides divebombing people and animals who get too close, they can take over feeding stations meant to accommodate other birds besides them. Not only that, but they’ve also been known to eat the eggs and kill the chicks of other, smaller songbirds, and nearly every songbird is smaller than a blue jay. Homeowners might want to set aside a place where the jays can feed, and set up a blue jay proof area for the other birds.
FAQs About Blue Jays
If you would like to set up your yard or other open areas to attract Blue Jays, there are several factors that you should keep in mind. Keep in mind that these jays are often found in the eastern part of North America. Keep reading while we provide the explanations to some of the most frequently asked questions about these vibrant birds.
What Kind Of Seeds Do Blue Jays Prefer?
You will find that jays are not picky birds, enjoying a variety of edible plant matter. One of these birds will eat out of a seed feeder, but jays like to visit suet feeders as well. These guys go crazy over sunflower seeds and acorns. They will eat corn rather quickly while they prefer to hide peanuts. All of these foodstuffs will be attractive to the blue jays that are in your neighborhood.
One of the biggest reasons for homeowners to keep an eye out for interesting bird species is to provide them with a happy life. Allowing them access to nutritious, delicious foods is an excellent way to do this.
Do I Need To Clean My Blue Jay Bird Feeder And How Do I Do It?
Cleaning the feeder that you use for wild birds is an integral part of safeguarding their health. It can not only prevent the appearance and proliferation of mold, but it will also put a stop to the clumping of your bird feed. This makes it easier for the birds to gain access to their food, but also reduces the number of viruses and bacteria found on the feeder.
Just as it is important to know why cleaning your jay feeder is important, it is crucial to understand the most correct way to do so. Many of the best Blue Jay bird feeders that are commercially available come apart for easy cleaning and are quite easy to get back together. Run the components through your dishwasher on the hottest setting, and let them air dry entirely before constructing it again. Keep your various bird feeders clean and well maintained to avoid the need to replace them and keep the jays coming back for more.
Should I Stop Feeding Blue Jays During The Summer Or Winter?
If you regularly feed the birds who frequent your property, you are likely to enjoy knowing that you are providing a valuable service when food sources are scarce in nature. This is generally in the winter and early spring months. Therefore, you will find it most useful to keep your bird feeders well-stocked at these times.
However, in the warmer summer months when food is plentiful, your bird feeders do not serve as much of a purpose. However, a particularly tempting blend of sunflower seeds and dried corn kernels are an excellent treat with which to attract jays, even when food is all around them. It is easy to make this mixture by hand, some careful examination will tell you the right proportions for your visitors.
How Can I Keep Squirrels Off My Blue Jay Bird Feeders?
One of the biggest threats to the peace and calm that lures birds over to feed on your feeder are squirrels. Not only do they quickly deplete the food available, but they scare birds away and sometimes injure or kill them. Even some of the Best Blue Jay Bird Feeders have issues with deterring squirrels. For a treatment designed to repel the invaders without harming them, use a pepper-based spray. Squirrels cannot stand the taste, but jays do not seem to mind it.
Alternatively, because squirrels are also avid climbers. If your feeders are elevated off the ground, make the base slick so that the squirrels cannot even reach the food. An easy way to do this is to add plastic tubing around a pole or plastic sheeting to another type of structure.
Should I Offer Blue Jays Water Via A Birdbath?
Not being a migratory bird, it is essential to the well being of your jays to provide them with water throughout the year. While a conventional birdbath is perfect for this for many months out of the year, to prevent it from icing over and being unusable when the temperatures get low enough, it is recommended to invest in a heated one of these if jays are particularly important to you.
While any container that can dispense water is useful for this purpose, adding an attractive birdbath to the front or back of your home can really boost your curb appeal.
Related Birdfeeder Articles:
The post Best Blue Jay Bird Feeders appeared first on BirdInformer.com.
from BirdInformer.com https://ift.tt/2D5V9e6
No comments:
Post a Comment