WHISKEY JACK

"Whiskey is liquid sunshine.." -Bernard Shaw

 M.W.

WHISKEY JACK.....also known as Grey Jay, or ( my favourite) Camp Robber! 

Up in the Mt. Washington Range. Along Paradise valley  walking trail. They come for blueberries and peanuts

They are found in the forest, Rocky Mountain Zone all the way down to New Mexico and Arizona. 

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They wear a striking grey and white tuxedo, and are more related to magpies than to Blue Jays.

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And they LOVE humans. They have no fear of  them. And often ask for hand outs. They love sunflower seeds and will perch happily on an outstretched hand.

In 1760 the Grey Jay was described by a zoologist (M. J. Brisson) as a songbird.

He called it by its French name "Le geay brun de Canada"

"In order to see birds it is necessary to become a part of the silence..." -Robert Lynd

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Whiskey Jacks hear humans on the trails and come flying in.  

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Smaller than a regular Jay, but large for a songbird.  It's wingspan is about 18 inches.

They build nests and lay eggs in  February  or March when their world is deep in snow.

Canada Jay is its official name, but the  slang name of "Whiskey Jack" is from the Cree and Algonquin name "Wisakedjak". 

It means:  "trickster" and is a  hero to the Cree and Algonquin nation.

The name is also in the Menominee culture.  A collection of legends and stories about how things came to be...(Worth looking up and reading)

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In North America the Tlingit people know the  Whiskey Jack as taat'eeshdei

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The Mi'kmaq of Nova scotia  depict the Big Dipper seven stars each as a separate bird.  

In the night sky, the star Eta Ursae Majoris is the Canada Jay "Mikjaqoqwej"

But we call it the Whiskey Jack. Humourous, happy thing, who loves humans and will fly for blueberries  or peanuts.....

"When the sun of compassion arises, darkness evaporates, and the singing birds come from nowhere..." -Amit Ray

M.W.

With thanks to Morgan Woods (M.W.) for the contribution  of the Whiskey Jack pics

Photographs 2020 .