Blue Jay Gets the Winter Blues

Hey. I’m Jay.

What? You thought I’d be named Mike or Liam? Wrong! I’m your basic loud but lovable blue jay.

Want to hear a secret? My feathers aren’t blue. Really! Pigments in my flappers are brown. Special cells on the surface reflect blue light, which makes them look — you guessed it — blue.

Since we’re on the subject, I’ll tell you a story. It’s about the winter I truly turned blue. But not on the outside — on the inside.And here.

A Troubling Discovery

Here’s something you may not know about blue jays: We looove acorns. In fact, I gather thousands every fall and hide them all over the neighborhood. That way, I have plenty to eat during winter.

Jays are supposed to be smart. But sometimes I forget where I buried an acorn, and it sprouts into an oak tree the following spring. You’re welcome, squirrels!

Anyway, I was out searching for lost snacks when I noticed something that made the feathers on my neck stand up …

All the Birds Had Vanished!

The first clue came from the swallow nest tucked under the barn. It was empty. No cause for alarm, I thought. Maybe the swallow family had simply swooped away to run errands. But then I noticed no one was home at the warbler nest, either. And when I checked the tiny hummingbird nest, there weren’t any tiny hummingbirds inside!

Friends, I was shook. What kind of spooky movie was I in? I flew home to search for answers …

Scrolling for Clues

Fear stuck in my throat like a worm-wrecked acorn. Deep breaths, Jay. Smell the flowers. Blow out the candles.

I flicked on my phone. The quickest way to solve the mystery, I decided, was to search for clues on social media. I pulled up Wrenstagram and began scrolling through my bird buddies’ accounts. What I saw shocked me.

My friends hadn’t vanished. They’d gone on vacation. Without me.

Wrenstagram post

BugEater (Barn swallow)

The Amazon River is an all-you-can-eat buffet! I flew over 3,000 miles just to get to Brazil, and I’ve already stuffed my beak with enough bugs to gain back the weight I lost. lol. #SorryNotSorry

Wrenstagram post

NectarNerd (Ruby-throated hummingbird)

500 miles of open ocean + 20 hours of flight + 3,816,000 wingbeats = 1 hungry hummer! I just flew to Mexico, and boy are my wings worn out. Time to buzz off and find some flowers. #SugarRush

Wrenstagram post

WanderingWarbler (American redstart)

Palm trees. Waves. Sandy beaches. Reggae. What’s not to love about Jamaica? A change in latitude really changed my attitude! This warbler could get used to island life. #WeBeJamming

My pals were having the time of their lives. When I realized this, a new fear parked itself in the pit of my stomach. FOMO — fear of missing out.

Feeling the FOMO

Why did my friends ghost me? How could they leave me behind? Would they ever return?

My cousin the crow caught me moping by the bird feeder. I’d gone to drown my sorrow in seeds. But every perch was packed with strange birds I didn’t know. Could things get any worse?

I must have looked bluer than usual because my cousin said, “Hey Jay, why so blue?” (He’s a real funny guy.) When I told him, he just shook his head and handed me a magazine.

The Migration Explanation

Mind. Blown. 

Did you know that some animals move from one place to another when the seasons change? It’s not vacation. It’s called migration.

According to my magazine, over 300 kinds of birds live in Missouri, and over half of them migrate. They fly here in the spring to find food and places to nest. And when bugs and nectar dry up — or they finish raising babies — they fly south.

My friends didn’t ditch me! They migrated.

You know what else I learned? Birds who nest up north come to Missouri in winter. This, I discovered, explained all the new faces at the feeder.

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SnowBrrrd commented: That blue looks good on you!

JayBird25 Best winter ever thanks to these feathered fellas! You don’t need to migrate to find a good time. Just stay put, be yourself, and let new friends find you. It worked for me. #NoMoFOMO #FlocksRock #Xplor