I'd usually come up with a story like this one for the middle of next week (check the dates), but was thrown off enough with this true encounter this morning (Fri., 27 Mar.'20), felt I would share and see if anyone else has had a similar experience. Anyway, we were respecting the current lock down/in/whatever you want to call it, out in the back yard (Denver, Denver Co.) playing with the dogs when I heard the characteristic "ki-ki-ki..." of an American Kestrel nearby. We get kestrels coming around only very periodically, so thought "cool, where is he?" Scanned the sky, looked to the tree tops, to see if I could find him, nothing. However, it kept calling, so walked around trying to find the now frustrating bird. Only when I noticed a bird fly out of a tree down the alley, still giving the call, that I had my WTF moment - it was a BLUE JAY!! Now we are all familiar with jays of all flavors giving Red-tailed Hawk type cries, but this was the first time I'd heard one giving a perfect American Kestrel call!
So have any of y'all had this specific (I guess inter-species) fake out happen with Blue Jays, or any other jay, before? Interested in your experiences. Stay safe and healthy.
Cheers,
Doug
Denver
27 March 2020 – Home in Southwest Denver, Denver Co., CO
Canada Goose – 2 (flyover)
Rock Pigeon – 5
Eurasian Collared-Dove – 3
Ring-billed Gull – 1ad (flyover)
Northern Flicker – 4 "Red-shafted"
American Kestrel – FAKE NEWS!!
Blue Jay – 5
Black-capped Chickadee – 6
Bushtit – 5
European Starling – 1
American Robin – 2
House Finch – 15
Dark-eyed Junco – 2 "Slate-colored"
- 1 "Oregon"
- 5 "Pink-sided"
Spotted Towhee – 1m
Red-winged Blackbird – 1m
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