There is a scrub jay who visits our garden. He flies from tree to tree, swoops down to perch on the fence, and hops between the bushes. We call him Bluey. At first, my relationship with Bluey was one of distant admiration. I admired his athleticism and plumage from afar. That was until one day when the kids showed me that I could personally interact with Bluey and connect. When Bluey was spotted, we left a dish of peanuts out for him. Not long after, we saw Bluey hopping over to the dish and munching on the snack. We continued offering Bluey peanuts this way for a few days. We also slowly moved ourselves closer to the dish, as Bluey’s trust in us grew. Being so close, I found that I could see so much more detail in Bluey. Sometimes he would even pause, cock his head, and look at us for a few moments before getting back to his peanuts. Then one afternoon, when one of the kids saw Bluey overhead, she sat down ever so quietly and ever so calmly, offering a resting peanut in the palm of her open hand. We waited to see if Bluey would come. Spellbound, we watched Bluey swoop in, receiving the gift with his beak! It was a truly magical moment. These days, Bluey comes around often to visit, especially when a peanut is raised to the sky. It seems like the whole house rejoices when “Bluey’s here!” is sung. My relationship with Bluey has grown and I have learned so much about him. I discovered that Bluey is a highly social, curious, and indeed hungry individual. While he was always there, by reaching out and consciously connecting with him, he became more present. Now he is part of the stories we tell around the dinner table and we wonder where he is when he’s not in the garden. I am delighted to say that Bluey has indeed become a friend.
You can befriend a scrub jay like Bluey too by noticing the birds in your own backyard. Pick up some peanuts the next time you are grocery shopping and simply place a few on a dish outside. If a scrub jay comes, continue offering nuts over a few days and eventually work your way closer to the dish. Then make the leap and offer a peanut in the palm of your own open hand. I have even heard of people wearing a hat with nuts resting on top of it while sitting calmly and quietly outside. This is also a great way for kids to practice a Sit Spot. Once your scrub jay is visiting regularly, be sure your family gives him or her a name because that helps build the bond. Your child’s imagination will then take flight. A relationship with your local scrub jay is one way to connect with nature and create memories that last a lifetime.
Here is a helpful link for more information about our neighbor, scrub jay:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/California_Scrub-Jay/overview
