[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: Paint-eating Blue Jay
- To: c.egelhoff@usa.com, carolinabirds@duke.edu (CAROLINA BIRDS)
- Subject: Re: Paint-eating Blue Jay
- From: "BILL HILTON JR. (Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History)"<hilton@hiltonpond.org>
- Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2000 14:31:35 -0400
- In-Reply-To: <0004061356177T.07387@weba7.iname.net>
- References: <0004061356177T.07387@weba7.iname.net>
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
CLAUDIA . . .
Is the railing painted white?
Blue Jays frequently eat white bits of egg shell; they also seem to
have an eye for adding white things to their nest--as described in an
earlier thread on CarolinaBirds. Perhaps this jay THINKS it's found a
mother lode of calcium.
If the paint is old and flaking, there's a good chance it is
lead-based, so it can't be healthy for jays or anything that might
eat flakes or jays. I'd definitely advise getting rid of the flakes
and re-painting.
Best wishes,
BILL
*********
>I watched this morning as a Blue Jay twice landed and ate pieces of
>flaking paint from the metal railing on my back porch. We checked
>the railing for bugs, seeds or pollen but couldn't find anything
>except the flaking paint and rust spots.
>
>We were alerted to his arrival by his soft imitation of a Red Winged
>Hawk. He sat for about 15 seconds each time, calling and picking up
>little pieces of paint. Both feeders held seed and suet is still
>available. Should I go out later and sand off these paint flakes?
>Doesn't seem real healthy to me!
>
>Claudia
>-----
>Claudia Egelhoff
>"Share a Story"
>Audio and video biographies for individuals, families and organizations
>Raleigh, North Carolina
>---------------------------------------------------------------
>Get free personalized email from USA.com at http://mail.usa.com
*********
**********
BILL HILTON JR., "The Piedmont Naturalist"
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History
1432 DeVinney Road
York, South Carolina 29745
USA
e-mail: <hilton@hiltonpond.org>
Voice: (803) 684-5852
eFax: (503) 218-0845
Hilton Pond Center for Piedmont Natural History is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit research and education organization, so all in-kind or
monetary gifts to Operation RubyThroat and the Center are
tax-deductible. Please visit our websites:
Hilton Pond: <http://www.hiltonpond.org>
Operation RubyThroat: <http://www.rubythroat.org>
"Never trust a person too lazy to get up for sunrise or too busy to
watch the sunset."
BHjr.
**********