Jay Behaviour

[Columbarius]

I was watching a Jay on our lawn (well moss really) this morning. He was hopping about burrowing in the thatch looking (I suspect) for leatherjackets - crane fly larvae.

But what intrigued me was that once he had found a grub he would pick up a fallen leaf and cover the hole he had just made.

This was not a one-off event. He repeated the behaviour at each new excavation.

Any thoughs on why?

[Littlesparrow]

I've got a feeling Jays bury nuts in the lawn a bit like squirrels are you sure he was taking something out and not putting it in?

[Dogghound]

Interesting, they usually use markers like this when they have actually cached a food item. The fact that yours is doing it after it has taken a food item is slightly odd. Perhaps it is doing this as these particular areas are richer with grubs than other parts of the lawn, to remind it where the hot spots are? Littlesparrow's suggestion is common jay behaviour and if you did not see what it was doing clearly, this is a likely explaination. They dont always carry acorns (seeds) in the beak but often in the crop prior to caching them.

[Columbarius]

Thank you for your feedback. I have watched them carrying acorns in their beak & burying them, but didn't realise that they could carry them in their crop too.

This bird made 4/5 holes whilst I was watching - what's the ccapacity of their crop.

I did observe him enjoying a white/pale yellow grub during the episode - but he could have been multitasking - feeding and storing. I also did a little inspection of the fresh holes but could not find any evidence of buried treasure (or acorns).

I'll post again if I have further evidence either way.

[Johnny81]

A reminder of how smart corvids really are

[Tursiops2]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Perhaps it is doing this as these particular areas are richer with grubs than other parts of the lawn, to remind it where the hot spots are? .

Or perhaps hiding the signs of good pickings from other Jays?

Interesting observation.
T2