Blue Jays are notoriously quiet and furtive this time of year, so I thought
it odd today when I saw one under my feeder sitting on the ground in full view
with tail and wings spread. My first thought was that it was injured---it held
quite still.

After I took a picture of it, however, it up and flew!

I know that many birds spread in the sunlight, ostensibly to do something
about ectoparasites. Is this behavior documented in jays?

My picture of this bird is posted at:

http://hometown.aol.com/fburggraf/blja.html


Fred Burggraf
Dentsville, MD (Charles County)