Can’t have a week of favorite birds without having a Passerine – and since I already did Corvus for Dinosaur March Madness 2016, here is my second favorite member of the most diverse Dinosaurian Group – the Blue Jay! There are two species in this genus, the Blue Jay and the Stellar’s Jay, and while they look fairly different from one another, they also have non-overlapping ranges, so it’s usually very easy to figure out which one you’re looking at. The jay does have a bit of a fossil record, with fossils of the genus known from around 4.75 million years ago, in the Zanclean age of the Pliocene of the Neogene. Given that its family proper evolved in the mid-Miocene, this would indicate that the Pliocene is indeed when this genus first originated.
Blue Jay, by Mdf, CC BY-SA 3.0
The more famous species in this genus, C. cristata, is the Blue Jay. It is not threatened conservationally, and is very common throughout its range. It has a very large range, from the Eastern Coast of North America, to around Alberta, Canada and Montana, USA. It doesn’t extend further south than New Mexico, Texas, and Florida, so it isn’t found much in Mexico. It only really is in Canada during its breeding season, and is only found in Idaho during the Winter, though it can be found in some portions of Canada year-round, and the rest of its range is year-round as well. It is extending westward a little, so it has been seen on the Pacific coast, but not frequently. This extension into the range of the Stellar’s Jay, its sister species C. stelleri, has even lead to some hybridization between the two.
By Dick Daniels, CC BY-SA 3.0
The bird can be migratory or not, depending on the subspecies and location in which it lives, though their migratory patterns still largely remain a mystery. They likely migrate due to weather conditions and sources of foods. They live in a variety of habitats, such as mixed woodlands, pine woods, and spruce-fir forests, though it prefers less dense forests. It does adapt well to human activity and can be found in parks and residential areas. They feed on nuts, corn, grains, and seeds, which it finds on the ground and in trees, along with berries other types of plant materials. They can store food, and they frequently visit bird feeders, though many types of animals prevent Blue Jays from feeding at feeders (such as squirrels, scrub-jays, grackles, and woodpeckers).
By Saforrest, CC BY-SA 3.0
It is a noisy and aggressive bird, making a large variety of sounds that can vary from individual to individual. They can even mimic human speech, as well as the cries of local hawks. They will often create a high pitched jayer-jayer call that increases in speed as it gets agitated, and they can use the calls to band together and mob predators and drive them away from nesting sites. They have quiet calls used amongst other members of the species, including one that sounds like a rusty water pump. They fly rather slowly, only about 32 to 40 km/h, but i can chase predatory birds and intimidate them with screaming to get them out of their territories. It also is often aggressive towards humans that come close to the nest, and will mob owls and other birds for being near their nests or roosting near them. They also chase away other birds from feeders.
By Glunardi, CC BY-SA 3.0
They are very curious and intelligent birds. The young steal brightly colored and reflective objects and carry them around, and in captivity they use newspaper to get food. They have a mating season that begins in mid-March and extends into July, and they nest in trees such as evergreens, creating cup-shaped nests of twigs, roots, moss, and other plant material. They even use mailboxes to nest in if no trees are readily available. The birds form monogamous pair bonds for life, with both members of the pair building the nest and rearing the young. The female sits on the eggs as the male gives her food.
By Jeff the Quiet, CC BY-SA 3.0
The babies are helpless and hatch after 18 days, becoming more independent 17 – 21 days after hatching. The family travels together and forages togehter until the fall, when the young birds leave to avoid competition. They look grey as babies before developing the blue wing, back, head and tail feathers characteristic of the adults. They are sexually mature after one year. In the wild, they usually live about 7 years, though in captivity they can live up to 26 and have been found to be up to 17 in the wild.
Stellar’s Jay, By Noel Reynolds, CC BY 2.0
The Stellar’s Jay, C. stelleri, is found on the Pacific coast of North America, as opposed to the original range of the Blue Jay. It looks similar to the Blue Jay, except with different patterning on its wings and tail, and with blue feathers on its underside and grey feathers on its back and head, rather than the blue on the back and head and white on the underside of the Blue Jay. It lives up to Alaska, down the Western coast of Canada and America, and even extends into Mexico and Central America. It is the only jay with a crest west of the Rocky Mountains, and though its range is not as wide as the Blue Jay (though much longer), it is not of concern in conservationist circles.
By Kathy Munsel, CC BY-SA 2.0
It varies in its coloration throughout its range, with blackish-brown-headed birds in the north and more blue-headed birds in the south. It has a larger crest than the Blue Jay and a more slender bill. It is also larger, about 29 cm long. It lives in coniferous forests and low to moderate elevations, and is also commonly found in agricultural areas. It feeds on both plant and animal matter including seeds, nuts, berries, fruits, invertebrates, rodents, eggs, and even nestlings, as well as reptiles. They eat mainly acorns and conifer seeds when not breeding, and will scavenge on picnics and camp sites, as well as eating at bird feeders.
By Walter Siegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0
They nest in conifers or tree hollows, and they construct nests similar to that of the Blue Jay, though they’re usually larger. They use natural materials, trash, and mud to build their nests, and lay two to six eggs. The eggs are incubated by the female for 16 days, while the male feeds the female. They are usually lourd birds, with numerous and variable vocalizations, such as a harsh SHACK-Sheck-sheck-sheck-sheck-sheck, and also soft hoodle hoodle calls, though they’re quiet while they nest. They have a harsh alarm call of wah. They can mimic other birds and animals, including hawks and ospreys, tricking other birds to seek cover and hide. Like the Blue Jay, it is a clever animal.
Can someone please link me to those studies that prove reptiles benefit from enrichment?
i dont have links but
Alimi, Lynn and Gordon Burghardt. Environmental enrichment alters the behavioral profile of ratsnakes (Elaphe). Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science (2006) 9(2): 85-109.
Bashaw, Meredity, Mallory Gibson, Devan Schowe, Abigail Kucher. Does enrichment improve reptile welfare? Leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) respond to five types of environmental enrichment. Applied Animal Behaviour Science (2016).
Emer, Sherri, Cordula Mora, Mark Harvey, Michael Grace. Predators in training: operant conditioning of novel behavior in wild Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivitattus). Animal Cognition (2015) 18: 269-278.
Kis, Anna, Ludwig Huber, Anna Wilkinson. Social learning by imitation in a reptile (Pogona vitticeps). Animal Cognition (2015) 18: 325-331.
Kreger, Michael, Joy Mench. Physiological and behavioral effects of handling and restraint in the ball python (Python regius) and the blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua scincoides). Applied Animal Behaviour Science (1993) 38 (3-4): 323-336.
Moszuti, Sophie, Anna Wilkinson, Oliver Burman. Response to novelty as an indicator of reptile welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science (2017): in press.
Passos, Luiza, Humberto Espirito Santo Mello, Robert John Young. Enriching tortoises: assessing color preference. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science (2014) 17: 274-281.
Habitat Manipulation in Hunting Rattlesnakes (Crotalus Species) Pitman B and Clarke R.
Some Observations on Snakes Riot Takatsuki, Psychological Institute, Keijo Imperial University.
The importance of enrichment for advancing amphibian welfare and conservation goals: A review of a neglected topic Christopher J. Michaels , J. Roger Downie, and Roisin Campbell-Palmer
Using student-centred research to evidence- base exhibition of reptiles and amphibians: three species-specific case studies Rose, Nash, Ferguson et al.
Experiments of Odor Enrichments Affect Behavior of Species of Snakes Mao Jie Zuo Zhili Yang Xiaoyi Cheng Jian Xie Yi (Chengdu Zoo & Chengdu Wildlife Research Institute,Chengdu,610081,China)
Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 391 – 398 A Critical Review of Zoo-based Olfactory Enrichment
The physiological and behavioural impacts of and preference for an enriched environment in the eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) Beth C. Casea,*, Gregory A. Lewbarta, Phillip D. Doerrb
An Assessment of Environmental Enrichment on Morphology and Behavior of Yearling Rat Snakes (Elaphe obsoleta). ***8220; Almli, Lynn M., 2004. Master***8217;s Thesis, University of Tennessee
Corticosterone suppresses immune activity in territorial Galápagos marine iguanas during reproduction. Berger, S. et al., 2005. Hormones and Behavior,
Environmental enrichment and cognitive complexity in reptiles and amphibians: Concepts, review, and implications for captive populations. Burghardt, G. M., 2013. Applied Animal Behaviour Science,
Problem of reptile play: Environmental enrichment and play behavior in a captive Nile soft-shelled turtle, Trionyx triunguis. Burghardt, G. M., Ward, B. & Rosscoe, R., 1996. , Zoo Biology
Personality Traits Are Expressed in Bullfrog Tadpoles during Open-Field Trials. Carlson, B. E. & Langkilde, T., 2013. Journal of Herpetology
Visual discrimination and reversal learning in rough-necked monitor lizards (Varanus rudicollis).. Gaalema, D. E., 2011. Journal of Comparative Psychology
Using Operant Conditioning and Desensitization to Facilitate Veterinary Care with Captive Reptiles. Hellmuth, H., Augustine, L., Watkins, B. & Hope, K., 2012. Exotic Animal Practice
Spatial learning of an escape task by young corn snakes, Elaphe guttata guttata, Holtzman, Harris et al, 1999. Animal Behaviour Vol. 57, Issue 1
From slither to hither: Orientation and spatial learning in snakes. Holtzman, D. A., 1999. Integrative Biology
Investigatory behavior in snakes, II: Cage cleaning and the induction of defecation in snakes Chiszar, Wellborn et al, 1980. Animal Learning and Behaviour, Vol 8. Issue 3
Spatial learning of an escape task by young corn snakes,Elaphe guttata guttata. Holtzman, D. A., Harris, T. W., Aranguren, G. & Bostock, E., 1999. Animal Behaviour
Environmental Enrichment for Dendrobatid Frogs. Hurme, K. et al., 2003. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
Operant conditioning in the indigo snake. Kleinginna Jr., P. R., 1970. Psychonomic Science
Zoo-Academic Collaborations: Physiological and Psychological Needs of Reptiles and Amphibians. Kreger, M. D., 1993. Herptologica
Behavioural flexibility and problem-solving in a tropical lizard. Leal, M. & Powell, B. J., 2011.Biology Letters
Experimental evaluation of environmental enrichment of sea turtles. Therrien, C. L., Gaster, L., Cunningham-Smith, P. & Manire, C. A., Zoo Biology 2007
An experimental test of the link between foraging, habitat selection and thermoregulation in black rat snakes Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta G Blouin-Demers, Journal of Animal Ecology 2001
Assessing environmental enrichment for juvenile Jamaican boas Epicrates subflavus Stejneger, 1901 Dodo, Journal of the Jersey Wildlife and Preservation Trust 1996
Investigatory behavior inthe plains garter snake (Thamnophis radix) and several additional species Chiszar, Carter et al, 1976. Animal Learning and Behaviour, Vol 4, Issue 3
it would be nice if forced mental healthcare wasn’t a thing so I could tell my therapist about my problems
I’m NOT talking like “I have plans to hurt myself or other people” problems. like yes that line has some power but if you’re a minor they don’t need that to force things on you, and if you’re not they don’t necessarily need it in practice, and it depends what kind of person you are and how doctors perceive you (which is not just divided along diagnosis lines) how theoretical or actual your rights are
also talking to therapists about problems has historically been a terrible idea and ime therapists are way less good at listening even though they are better at making polished listening voices which I think they are very proud of and worse at thinking up solutions that work and are more likely to be unfairly blamey about things even when the things are totally outside of someone’s control so maybe that would be a bad idea anyway in that hypothetical world
the polished listening voice. yes. so annoying.
1. you can’t talk about being abused by psychiatrists to other psychiatrists. Even if it’s ‘this past therapy was harmful’, you can’t let it all of the trauma out without filtering yourself to not seem anti-therapy or anti-recovery. The possibility of saying “mentally ill people need therapy/help getting better by people trained to deal with it” and “the institution of psychiatry is founded on abusing ‘severely’ mentally ill people and does very little to challenge this” is gone, they’re now mutually exclusive when they shouldn’t be.
2. some situations literally are out of your control, and you need someone to tell you ‘yes this sucks’ and not ‘the way you’re looking at this situation sucks’. if you’re forced to move out of your home because a hurricane hit, looking at it in a new way won’t give you a place to live or your old home back.
I can’t think of a better example, but therapists will often look at this problem and say you’re inappropriately grieving or ‘blowing things out of proportion’, and then they just teach you shittier coping mechanisms to a problem that can’t be solved by you just thinking positively. It just creates new problems to solve that weren’t necessary to begin with that distract you from the other person.
Like if someone acts rude to me, me reframing it as “I should listen better to them/be more patient” doesn’t make the interaction not bad, it just frames it as a character flaw in myself that I now have to solve, instead of the person’s rudeness being something they could choose to engage with or not. And you don’t have to blame the rude person or say that they’re 100% terrible to acknowledge they’re being rude to you, but somehow that always factors out of the equation. It’s a “you” issue now.
Even if you don’t panic about losing a home, you still have to purchase new furniture and things and find an apartment or shelter or something. Changing where the blame is placed doesn’t make those issues, or any issue, go away. Even as much as i like DBT, it still has an element of ‘reframe this to put blame on myself and then solve it that way’ that i really don’t care for. But it’s an intrinsic part of most therapies and schools of thoughts so i can’t really pin that on marsha.
and also to go off 2,
2(b), therapy always frames interpersonal problems as the mentally ill patient’s fault. or autistic person. any neurodiverse person really. and then the solutions are built off the assumption that you’re not fairly assessing yourself and that you’re out of touch with the reality of what’s going on. It becomes a bizarre form of gaslighting.
The most common one I’ve seen and heard is people talking about you becoming “actually you’re paranoid and they’re not talking about you” or “they might be saying good things” (which is why they’re whispering in the first place, right?) or “they’re insecure” (/jealous/something else). I don’t care how insecure they are. That affects nothing.
That doesn’t change the fact that two people are talking about me in front of my face and it makes me anxious. Telling myself that I’m lying about this situation doesn’t make it better or easier to deal with. And I had to go through so much therapy just to find that out. No one asks “maybe they are talking about you? so what? now where do you go?” or takes it from an angle where your lived experiences are real and valid.
I admire him for only cursorily acknowledging his bat-ness and the biological imperatives of bat-nature
[Image description: photo of a young fruit bat clinging to a twig with its hind feet as it sleeps. The twig is only half as tall as the bat is, so they are actually lying on the ground, on their back. Description ends.]
Is this like when a human tries to sleep in a bed that’s too short for them?
Urocyon's Jaunts 2.0 
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