Around noon today, as we crossed the bridge from Plantation Island to the stables area, I heard the distinct sound of a Blue Jay. I froze and listened, and the call went on and on. No question, no doubt. I rode down the dead end asphalt path, which is about 1/8^th of a mile long, and I would say the bird was about halfway down. Unfortunately, I never actually saw the bird. 🙁

This is the same general area where I heard the bird yesterday, but the bird went on much longer today.

Tom McCabe, Boise

If you watch any television at all, you end up seeing scenes from the eastern half of the country, and I always listen for the bird sounds in the background. Lately, I’ve been hearing Blue Jays a lot. Way cool.

So the other morning while lying in bed, I thought I heard a Blue Jay in the vicinity of my house in the North End of Boise. After much soul searching, I decided I must have been dreaming and the dream seemed real. (As with all identifications by sound, I want the first call to alert me to the presence and the second to confirm the ID).

Then today, at six miles into my bike ride (so probably not asleep and dreaming), and stopped on Remington St., I heard a Blue jay. My head snapped around and then –yes!—I heard it again. Unfortunately, I stood there a long time and never heard it again, and I got as close to where I thought the sound emanated, but still nothing.

So if you are in the vicinity of Plantation Island, keep your ears tuned. It sounded like the bird was either on the island or in the vicinity of the discontinuous part of the Garden City greenbelt.

Tom McCabe, Boise

PS—a few years ago the island played host to a Steller’s Jay for much of the winter, and that same year there was a Blue Jay hanging out in the North End with a Steller’s Jay. So I’m keeping my fingers crossed.