I have always admired the beauty of the colorful Blue Jay. As a young hunter I was frequently disturbed when a flock of Jays discovered me and sounded the alarm with their incessant calling. As my outdoor experience grew I soon realized that most woodland creatures ignore the Jays. Perhaps they have learned the Jay is much like the character in Aesop’s Fable, The Boy Who Cried Wolf.
I recently learned an interesting fact about the Jay. The striking blue coloration of their feathers is not the result of pigmentation but is rather the result of light refraction caused by the internal structure of the feather. Wikipedia explains that if one crushes a blue feather the color fades as the feather structure is destroyed.
I have tried repeatedly over the last few days to obtain a good photograph of a Blue Jay. Low light, harsh sunlight, shadows, motion blur, missed focus, poor backgrounds etc. have been the common obstacles. I cannot say I am completely satisfied with this shot but suffice it to say it is the best I have obtained to date.
15 comments:
I love blue jays & you captured a great shot of one.......however....they are an enemy to us pecan farmers! They eat the dog gone nuts! I cant wait to explore your blog more. Looks like you may like the outdoors as much as me!! I'll be back! Thanks for the nice comments today!
That's really great. I also like the placement of your logo.
That's a nice shot, Salty. I like all birds but some are really neat for a different reason. And Blue Jays are among them.
Blue Jay's and Red birds I think are my favorites. I'm not sure, they all have something nice about them. I like your photo.
Today is bridge theme day.
Great Country Capture Salty... your blog lives up to its name for sure.
We dont't have these over here but we do have a bird called a Jay.
http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/j/jay/index.asp
This bird was killed in great numbers at one time for the small blue feathers on its wings.. these feathers decorated Trilby hats that were in fashion last in the 20-30-40-50s.. nearly wiped the birds out it did.
Yet again Salty, you have captured a great photo.
Dont forget to sign-up for my giveaway.
Beautiful photo! I hope you had a GREAT Thanksgiving...
We have these noisy birds in our yard too. They can really make a racket. I love their bright blue feathers and their precocious attitude. I think its a great picture.
We have LOTS of Blue Jays here...but I agree, they are VERY hard to get a good shot of.
You've got a good one here...and I'm with Chad...I like where you put your logo :)
I think it is a wonderful shot of the Blue Jay, they are such beautiful bird's, Blue is my fav. color..:D They are kinda mean to the other bird's at my feeder's~they tend to make pigs of themselves..:) And they are noisy, but such fun to watch!! Nice learning more about them here too!!
I have yet to get a good capture of a Blue Jay..yours is beautiful! Also your full moon capture is stunning!! Thanks for visiting my blog often, and for taking the time to leave such nice comment's!!
Enjoy the weekend!!
Cat
Great photo of the Jay, Salty. Not sure why you're not real happy with it. It seems quite crisp! I call Jays the bullies of my feeder. They chase away the nuthatches and chickadees. Yes, the are also very loud. But, I'm trying to tolerate them and give them some space. Thanks for the lesson on the light refraction causing the blue color. I never heard that before.
Wildlife can be hard to capture, but you seem to be in the right place at the right time rather often. Persistence pays off! Nice shot.
Read your comment at Williams regarding the elk. Yep you said a mouthful! I really love to hunt....not to kill. I love looking for scrapes, paths etc. In South Ga finding a deer worth taking is hard....it takes serious management of the land but there is a fine line there too.
Perhaps you aren't totally satisfied with this capture. But I am!
Mari-Nanci
I think you should be satisfied with your photo, it is in fact very nice shot, and no obstructions, and so sharp. I have been trying, now going on the second year, to photograph them, but no luck, they are usually hiding in the deep branches behind the leaves, or they will not stay in my range. Enjoyed your post, and thanks for the update on the feathers, Anna :)
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