This week’s #SpeciesOfTheWeek is the Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata). The Blue Jay is a very recognizable bird with blue plumage on the upper parts and white below. The blue crest on top of the Blue Jay’s head makes it stand out against a backdrop of green foliage. Blue Jays are a common sight in Canadian forests, though they prefer areas with oak trees. In urban areas, they are frequently sighted in backyards where they often come to bird feeders. The diet of the Blue Jay consists mainly of nuts and insects though they may also eat dead and injured small animals. Blue Jays build their nests in the outer branches of coniferous and deciduous trees, typically 10-25 ft above the ground. Clutch sizes are often between 2 and 7 eggs. These highly intelligent birds have complex social systems and will often stay with one mate throughout their lives. Blue Jay populations have declined by 28% between 1966 and 2015. The most common cause of human-associated death is by cats. This species should be well-known to anyone from Prince Edward Island as it is the provincial bird, but here at Murphys Point, they can be found on all the major trails.