Nest building

When it has rained, or I have the sprinkler on, the Blue Jays love to come and collect muddy twigs for a bit of construction work. Blue Jays are very intelligent birds, who form monogamous pairs that bond for life.

They can make a large variety of sounds, and individuals may vary perceptibly in their calling style. Like other corvids, they may learn to mimic human speech. Blue Jays can also copy the cries of local hawks so well that it is sometimes difficult to tell which is which.

The Blue Jay typically has a very bad press, due to his reputation as a raider of other birds' nests, stealing eggs, chicks, and nests however, this may not be as widespread as is believed.

In old African American folklore of the southern United States, he was held to be a servant of the Devil, and was not encountered on a Friday as he was taking sticks down to Hell; he was happy and chirpy on a Saturday as he was so relieved to return.