Description

Steller Jay keeping on eye on a pair of Brown-headed Cowbirds on our aceage in South West British Columbia, Canada. Cowbirds don't build their our nests. The female (brown bird in photo) lays her eggs in other bird species nests thus having the host bird raise Cowbird young. Both male & female Cowbirds have been observed moving their eggs to other nests if the host bird deserts the nest with the Cowbird egg in it. Cowbirds can lay upwards of 35-40 eggs throughout any time in a year, depending on availablity of host nests of mating birds. The calcium needs of female cowbirds deems she'll clean up all shed snail shells in rapid order. My observation is 'our' Steller's here normally discard the unwanted Cowbird eggs from their nests.

Exif: F Number: 3.6, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/50 seconds, Flash: did not fire, compulsory flash mode, ISO: 100, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 57.70 mm, Model: KODAK P850 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA