Birding/western jays

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Expert: - 4/21/2008


Question
I have a western jay that is pecking like a woodpecker on the chimney (wood exterior). I often hear a banging inside as if one of the jays is stuck inside - but it goes away quite soon after initial noise.
Is the pecking (which by now has produced a one inch diameter hole) due to the bird inside - or are there bugs in the wood?

Thanks,
Nancy

Answer
If I understand you correctly, there seems to be a jay stuck inside a chimney and the other jay made a hole in the chimney because of this? Possibly there is a bird stuck in the chimney but it would have died in a day or two. Also, I have never heard of a jay being able to peck a hole in wood unless the wood is very soft/rotten. Jays don't usually peck like woodpeckers to obtain bugs.

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

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Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

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PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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