Attracting Blue Jays???

[John Gusmano]

Like many of you on here, I enjoy watching the birds. My favorite by far is the Blue Jay. They are a rare site, but they are around.

Do any of you know how to best attract Blue Jays to your yards? Is there a particular thing they like that I can put out to entice them to visit?

I’m thinking about picking up a bird feeder this weekend to attract them to the yard before spring, maybe even place a bird house to have them raise babies….. Not just the jays but all birds.

I just love the birds in the morning while I enjoy my coffee.

[Brad H.]

I think I have heard they like Peanuts in the shell. Be sure to get unsalted though.

[nytrapper23]

They love peanuts and also will eat suet. John blue jays won't nest in a bird house , they make a nest similar to a crow pretty good size and out of sticks.

[rendezvous]

I have them in the yard quite a bit. They are generally bullies, they drive away all the other birds til they get their full. Noisy too. My favorites at the feeder are the Chickadees, Cardinals, Gold Finches, and Junkos. My favorite in the yard is the Robins, great parents and fun to watch. Then swallows. Overall favorite, the Eastern Turkey, especially May 1st to May 31st! 

[hoseromon]

They will eat feed corn a lot too.

[nytrapper23]

Feb 18, 2015 12:03:19 GMT -5 hoseromon said:

They will eat feed corn a lot too.

Yes I forgot this, I put out ears of corn and they will pick them clean in no time at all.

[Deleted]

They seem to gobble up the sunflower seeds first, then the corn. Once that's cleaned up, they usually thin out, then the rest of the birds come piling in. As mentioned above, they do seem to bully the other birds trying to feed.

I just go to Mennards and buy the $13 mix seed bags (Generic) I think they are 40 pound bags

[Deleted]

You can have all of mine. Blue Jay's aren't to rare here. There's nothing worse than Blue Jay's while hunting deer, them little s**ts will eyeball you longer than a squirrel, and when you finally had a enough and move just a little, They call in their buddies. They are a nice looking bird, but their a pain in my ass.