About Blue Jay
Blue Jays are one of the most popular birds to visit artificial bird houses in the Eastern United States. With its unique, bold blue design, it would be challenging not to notice a Blue Jay. In this article, you’ll learn how to build or buy the right Blue Jay Bird House.
On average, the bird measures about 25-30 cm (10-12 inches), with a weight of 70-100 grams and a wingspan of around 34-43 cm (13-17 inches).
These birds are easy to recognize by their markings and color, but seeing a bit more closely at their natural structure can benefit birders to learn more about Blue Jays.
They have a black, thick, stout bill, and the head highlights a distinctive crest that can be raised or lowered with the bird’s agitation and emotions.
These corvids are incredibly adaptable to various habitats and can be found in many types of forests and parks, cities, and suburban areas where mature trees are available.
Blue Jays are omnivorous birds that may enjoy just about anything available. Nuts, seeds, insects, corn, carrion, berries, eggs, and even small animals such as lizards or newborn birds may be part of their menu.
Its intelligence and enthusiasm to tour feeders make this member of the Corvidae family a grateful guest for many bird-lovers.
About Blue Jay Bird Houses
Blue Jays like to nest in the crooks of long tree branches 12 to 30 feet over the ground. They form their nests with small, freshly broken roots and twigs and seldom patch them jointly with mud and moss.
To draw Blue Jays on your bird house helps imitate the bird’s natural preferences, and offer food nearby.
A closed house with only a tiny hole for an opening will draw birds that nest in tree crevices rather than branches. Blue Jays favor a big airy platform to an enclosed box.
Anytime is a great time to make a bird house to allow birds to adapt to the area quickly. An ideal time, however, is in the autumn or winter. As soon as they become suitable with a feeder or house, they make it a part of their everyday living.
If you’re successful in drawing a couple of Blue Jays in your bird house, odds are they will come back to it in the following years. It is sure to occur even if one partner dies, the other will return with a new partner.
Size Of Blue Jay Bird Houses
Drawing Blue Jays in your yard is easy. You can set a bird house or an open woodshed on a tree or your garage around 10 to 12 feet high. Find an area where they are safe from predators, visibility, elements, access, and sunlight.
An open Blue Jay bird house or nesting platform will undoubtedly invite these birds. Provide a floor area of about 8 x 8 inches with a ceiling also around 8 inches high.
A sloping roof with open sides and front is perfect. Birds that generally nest on trees are more likely to nest on houses as well, just like the Blue Jays.
Try installing your bird house on the side of your garage or set it to a tree. Even free-standing poles and windowsills work for Blue Jays.
The plan of making a Blue Jay bird house is to simulate a tree cavity. Birds that nest in tree pits will also nest in wooden bird houses. It will occur if the boxes and entrance holes follow specific measurements and are at suitable heights in good areas.
A height of 5 to 6 feet is good for the birds and you too, as it will still let you reach the house for cleaning.
Bear in mind, though, that Blue Jays choose to nest in a weathered bird house than a newly-made one. They begin looking for nesting areas during February and March.
Blue Jay Bird House Maintenance
It is necessary to provide Blue Jays with food, shelter, water, and proper nesting sites to make them feel comfortable in the backyard.
Food is the best offering to win any bird’s heart, and Jays enjoy various treats. Nuts are particularly favorite, including peanuts offered all or already shelled. Mealworms, suet, cracked corn, and sunflower seeds are other excellent choices.
Opt for unsalted, roasted nuts in bird feeders, so the nuts do not sprout, but avoid nuts with seasonings or spices. If required, however, hot or peppered nuts can restrain squirrels.
Avoid hanging houses that may sway or swing and make these birds uncomfortable. Instead, prefer pole-mounted or ground feeders that provide more stability.
Use baffles and other methods to create houses more squirrel-resistant, so the birds have sufficient food without facing greedy squirrels.
Make sure to clean bird houses or feeders frequently to avoid spreading a disease or having the food become unappealing due to clumping and mold.
Ensure houses are filled regularly, so birds do not miss the food—they have great memories and may pass on to other areas if a food source disappears.
Make sure there is a source of water around for the Jay’s to drink and bathe.
Building or Buying Blue Jay Bird Houses
Here are some of the Blue Jay house plans you can buy or build.
● Platform Birdhouses (open face): The open nesting platform can be mounted under porches, eaves, and
other open shelters. Use only softwood like cedar, pine, redwood to make this bird house.
● Semi-open Birdhouse Plan: You can make this beautiful semi-open bird house plan by Sikana English with 100% natural and durable wood.
Make these Blue Jay bird house kits for kids to make them feel special, and you can also offer them as a gift. The house will support Blue Jays to raise their young and keep predators out.
● Mourning Dove Platform Shelter: You can also use this Mourning Dove platform by 70birds for Blue Jays.
It has an 8 x 8 inches base, almost an 8-inch ceiling, an open face, and partially open sides and is Made up of pine, cedar, or nearly any softwood. Always practice corrosion-resistant screws and other tools.
Blue Jay Nests in Bird Houses
Although they are normally noisy birds, Blue Jays tend to be calm when in their nest. They set their nest at a height between 8 to 30 feet, usually on top of a deciduous or coniferous tree.
These passerine birds use leaves, roots, sticks, barks, twigs, and grass to make their cup-shaped nests on the top of trees or shrubs.
A pair of Jays start to make their nest after the courtship phase when the female has liked her future partner from a group of birds.
Once the female accepts the man, they fly away from the group and start looking for an area to make their home. Potential nesting sites would be a hardwood tree, a windowsill, or a power pole.
At first, the male bird will bring fine twigs for the female, which, in turn, tests the twigs. If the site is suitable, the couple then searches for larger twigs which they will use to develop a platform.
After about two days, they will build an inner cup composed of softer materials like grass, roots, and vines.
The female incubates the brood of 3-7 eggs for 16-18 days. Both parents support and care for the newborns for 18-20 days until they are ready to move from the nest. Both mates may raise 1-3 broods per season based on available food and local climate. You can set goals to bird-watch for these Jays after you have placed your bird house in your backyard and record your results.
