How To Attract Blue Jays To Your Yard
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Blue jays are gorgeous birds that inhabit the eastern half of North America, and many bird watchers enjoy having them around because of their beauty and intelligence. If you're looking to attract blue jays to your yard, there are several ways to turn your outdoor space into an oasis for these birds. Since blue jays are larger than a lot of other birds, it's important to install a bird feeder that's stable enough for them to perch on. While house and tube feeders are generally too small for them, platform feeders work well, whether they're suspended, on the ground, or mounted to a pole. The sturdier the feeder is, the more likely blue jays are to visit it, especially if you put out their favorite foods.
Peanuts, corn, and sunflower seeds are some of a blue jay's favorite foods, along with acorns and berries. If you decide to purchase peanuts that are still in their shell, you can put them in a cage bird feeder, like this one from Amazon, which creates a fun puzzle for the birds.
Attract blue jays with birdbaths
Having access to fresh clean drinking water is important for blue jays, and installing a birdbath is a great way to get them to visit your yard. Blue jays prefer birdbaths that aren't too deep, so using one that holds about 3 inches of water is perfect for them. Adding a bubbler or dripper to move the water will make your birdbath even more appealing to these passerine birds.
If you'd like to attract blue jays to your yard year-round, continuing to provide the birds with access to water in the winter will help, and using a heated birdbath will keep the water from freezing. It's also important to keep your birdbath clean, along with the water in it. You can find birdbath accessories at online retailers like Amazon; for example, this solar-powered fountain pump or this fountain with lights. There are also seasonal solutions like birdbath de-icers to melt the ice in your birdbath during colder weather.
Providing shelter for blue jays
Blue jays tend to like living in deciduous and coniferous trees, so having them near your house is a plus for attracting jays. You might also want to try planting trees or tall shrubs to keep these birds coming back to your yard. If you choose to plant trees that produce nuts or shrubs with berries, this will provide an additional food source for the songbirds as well as shelter. Holly, sumac, and viburnum bushes are great for blue jays, as well as oak and hazelnut trees.
While blue jays don't like to build their nests in birdhouses, providing them with a place to nest will help them stick around. Nesting shelves are a good option, but leaving grass clippings and twigs near your bird feeders and bath will give the blue jays materials to build their nest, encouraging them to stay nearby so you can enjoy watching them.