. [Articles about birds from National geographic magazine]. Birds. CROWS, MAGPIES, AND JAYS 61. Photosraph by George Sbiras, 3d A DENIZEN OF THE NORTH WOODS SHOWS SCANT FEAR OF MAN The Canada jay lives in the coniferous forests on the fringe or beyond the limits of civiliza- tion and is remarkably tame and bold. Despite an enormous capacity for food, he sometimes gets enough, and then stores his surplus in tree crevices. This reserve supply enables him to sustain his young in early spring, before good foraging is possible (see page 76). This is another representative of the family Corvidac whi
. [Articles about birds from National geographic magazine]. Birds. CROWS, MAGPIES, AND JAYS 61. Photosraph by George Sbiras, 3d A DENIZEN OF THE NORTH WOODS SHOWS SCANT FEAR OF MAN The Canada jay lives in the coniferous forests on the fringe or beyond the limits of civiliza- tion and is remarkably tame and bold. Despite an enormous capacity for food, he sometimes gets enough, and then stores his surplus in tree crevices. This reserve supply enables him to sustain his young in early spring, before good foraging is possible (see page 76). This is another representative of the family Corvidac which is unpopular with ^'ar^ous groups of people. Cattlemen tell you that he attacks weak or injured stock, and that hy pecking the scars made by the branding irons on calves or colts he pre- vents the wounds from healing. All observers agree that the magpies are a scourge to many birds, and that nests are constantly raided by them. Mourning doves, meadow larks, and other birds nest- ing on or near the ground are especially subject to raids. The eggs and young of swallows are dainties which parent mag- pies delight to gather for their young. Of course, they eat crickets and grasshoppers as well. A mouse is not safe if a magpie discovers it away from cover. Ground squirrels are killed by them, and magpies have been known to wait long and patiently for one of these rodents to emerge from its hole, when it is pounced upon and dispatched with blows from the powerful bill. I have seen flocks of magpies in Alaska, Colorado, and elsewhere engaged in hunt- ing systematically every bush and tree as they progressed. From the way they peeped and peered and investigated, they were uncjuestionably searching for eggs and young birds. At a distance I could keep track of the onward movement of the marauding band by the cries of alarm and distress raised by the smaller feathered in- habitants of the underbrush. THE BLUE JAY It would be difficult to find a more noisy bird than our beautiful blue j
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