Baby Blue Jay by Leeco
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Description
Nikon 7900pocket camera, hand-held image.
I came across this little guy last spring. I regret to say it (like the moth and dragonfly images I just posted)is another critter that probably did not live too long after this shot was taken. They are helpless once on the ground at this stage of life. The parents were near and making a fuss because I was there but they cannot defend against a Hawk, or Coyote, or feral dog, or any number of other potential predators.
It is not impossible that he made it the few more days he needed to get strong enough to fly, but it is a long shot. I made a half hearted attempt to catch him but the area had to much underbrush for that attempt to succeed.
Thanks to those who take the time to comment.
Lee
Comments (17)
brewgirlca
Sometimes the boldest don't always make it. He probably tried to fly to soon. Even though I'm a professional biologist I always feel bad when I see this happening. But you made something of his like, more than most would and so we have to take some joy in that.
bcrathburn
well its a good photo we can't always help what happens around us. i'm going to tink he made it through .*****
flora-crassella
….the small one looks very fearfully. A very beautiful photo of a bird, which there is not with us….
durleybeachbum
He looks remarkably vulnerable.
ysvry
aww thas sad, great foto though. I saw something similar when visiting the local zoo, a mother empiremonkey dropped her baby 2 meters on a stone, the baby wasnt dead but very drowsy, at first it hold on to a log on the ground , then when the mother came to look it tried hanging on to the mum again , but this monkey was so nervous it jumped away too quickly and the young fell off again, bystanders alerted the zoo personel and they entered the cage and put the young one on a tray again, the mother came to investigate again the young tried to hold on again but fell off again when the mom made a quick jump. it was now hanging with one hand on the tray again 2 meters above the ground. the mother came back and nervously pulled the baby so it droped to the ground again. at the ground this proces repeated itself the baby tried to hang on then the mother made a quick move and it fell off again, finaly it lay still and probably gave up. I went away hoping that after closing time the mother would relax and the baby would have a change to hang on as it was near closing time, but a week later i returned hoping to see 3 baby monkeys in that cage but only saw 2. I took some fotos and a small video , but I think its too sad to show here, I showed a friend and see couldnt look at it , so sad it was. It took me 3 days to get this monkey baby out of my head questioning why couldnt this baby live?
JeffG7BRJ
Well it has to be said Lee, whatever the outcome was(and I do hope it was an happy one), the capture is superb, excellent clarity and detail. The eye is sharp and a fantastic colour, as is the plumage. I do hope it made it to maturity. Bravo!!!!!
MrsRatbag
Not quite grown into his feathers yet...great portrait!
skyla824
wonderful shot... it is a shame that the life cycle can be so harsh. I have had this happen to me a few times. you are not sure weather to intercede or let nature take its coarse. most of the time I let nature do its thing and try not to interfere with the the process.
bpclarke
What a cutie. You never know if intercession is the right thing to do, but it makes one concerned for little ones like this. Splendid shot. Bunny
MrsLubner
I've had poor luck with rescue on Jays. I've had one with an badly mangled wing and one with a bum foot and punctured wing. Both did well for the first 2 days and then the one with the bum foot got stronger and battered himself on the cage until he took himself out. (nice was to say he committed suicide) The other did better but beat his bad wing on the sides of the cage until the badly mangled wing fell off. He healed well but was never very happy. He lived about a year and then just stopped eating. Jays are very wild birds by nature. This one might have been young enough to make it to fledging but catching him is key. :-) Do you have crows around you? The young will leave the nest before flight and spend about 2 weeks hiding with mom and dad feeding them on the ground. They look like adults when they hit the ground. I have had several ready for flight in my front yard dispite the dratted neighborhood cats. This is a wonderful shot and I love seeing the new feathers as they come in.
tizjezzme
I dont think I have ever seen a little blue jay like this; just the more adult ones. I pray this little guy survived and is flying high .... and happy.
Buffalo1
A great portrait of this little guy. Maybe he was tougher than we think!
RobyHermida
VERY NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ShadowsNTime
We have rescued a few and luckily they made it but also a few didn't..its a fabulous photo of this beautiful baby! Thanks so much for sharing it and for your input on my poison sumac, very appreciated! Apologies for my late response, I am ill and catching up as I can:-)
praep
AWW. Lovely little bird.
kbatty
What a beauty! I think he looks tough enough to make it!
lorandbartho
Fine bird photo.