Draw-a-Bird Day: Blue Jay
you woke me not with
singing, but with squawks—crowlike,
insistent and loud—
a flash of blue amid oak leaves,
glittering with morning sun
I read online that bands of blue jays making a racket are often harassing a predator–must have been a hawk about the other morning.
I will continue to do draw-a-bird day here, but I’ve been posting at kblog while Nina is taking an extended break. Once she returns, I’ll be back at MeMadTwo regularly again. In the meantime, visit me at my other site!
I’ve seen and heard blue jays do this, too. They get very noisy sometimes! 🙂
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They certainly do!
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I love your rendering of the jay in both painting and word.
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Thanks Jade. The blue jays seem to have taken over the neighborhood recently…
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There have been a couple visiting the bird feeder, which is unusual.
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Beautiful Blue Jay, so bright and happy. Thanks for your new blog link.
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Thanks Sharon. I like the bright colors too.
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Lovely words. Great image. Interesting fact about the blue jays.
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Thanks. Birds are endlessly fascinating.
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I love blue jays, their brashness appeals to me, and that includes their appearance. What a beautiful and vibrant painting you’ve done.
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Thanks Claudia. I’ve been wanting to get back to some real painting with gouache. I was pleased with this, especially since I tend to be background-phobic and both subject and ground managed to come together.
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Beautiful! Is that your painting too?
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Thank you! Yes it is.
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I am really pleased to see something from you, Kerfe. I have missed you. I have followed your other blog too.
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Thanks Robbie. I thought Nina would be ready to get back to the blog by now, but since she wants a longer break, I decided to do my own blog until she comes back.
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Your blue jay is beautiful! 💙 I must get out my gouache and play a bit! 😊
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Thanks Jill. I’ve been wanting to get out the gouache for awhile. In a way it’s trickier than watercolor but I love the intensity of the colors.
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I’ve read that jays sometimes will mimic other birds, including hawks and crows. Great Picture!
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Thanks Ken. I’ve read that too. Hard to know who’s making noise in the bird world here, between them and the starlings and the mockingbirds. All are in residence, but not always in sight.
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I’ve wondered where you’ve been – will have to check the other site 🙂 Beautiful blue jay painting. We have many at our feeders. Sometimes they are a little aggressive with the others…
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Thanks Jodi. While Nina’s on break, I’ll be posting at the other site. I’m hoping she’ll be back soon!
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They are very noisy and quite bossy, but I enjoy them all the same. Yours looks so majestic!
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Thanks Carol. You are right, but I also enjoy them.
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A very lovely bird…
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Thanks Evelyn. I love the colors of their feathers.
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Beautiful blue jay!
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Thanks! They are beautiful birds.
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Sights and sounds evoking a real bird. Just read (in ‘Wilding’ by Isabelle Tree)that Jays in the UK are responsible for planting a huge number of oak trees by burying acorns.
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Beautiful bird, Kerfe. We have bossy Jays about our yard. The rule over the bird feeder and make a racket. 🙂
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They do make their presence known!
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Nice blue jay!
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Thanks! They are beautiful birds, if a bit noisy.
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What’s up guys
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We’re hanging in there Sheldon. Waiting for cooler weather. Good to hear your voice.
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I’m still here still writing and of course my art
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Beautiful Blue Jay and poem, K! Happy Friday and a great weekend! 😀
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Thanks Vashti! the same to you.
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Thanks! 😀
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I once followed a Blue Jay on Twitter, but all of its tweets were about bird seed.
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not surprising…
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Your sketches are so pretty. 😊
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Thanks Imelda.
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Beautiful colors taken and the blue Jay is so lovely, Marta. Great poem.
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