NPSpecies

Present year-round (Witt 1997).

Native to Maine (Palmer 1949) and North America (Long 1981).

Very common resident; abundant migrant (Witt 1997).

Park Species Detail: Breeding "over all of the island" (Witt 1997). Sharp (1997) Recorded from within park boundaries during the Breeding Bird Survey conducted June 1996. Long (1987): Seldom seen on MDI 30 years ago; now plentiful. Nests found at Salisbury Cove, no dates or exact locations given. North and Chidester (1986) Observed from Jordan Cliffs between July and September 1986. Russell (1984?) very common resident, abundant migrant; Blue jays have increased steadily since 1950. On 25 September 1973, approximately 800 were seen moving west along the north edge of Cadillac Mountain (W. Russell et al.). Duley and North (1984) observed at Jordan Cliffs between May and September 1984. Bond (1969) seldom seen on MDI 20 years ago; now common on MDI; nests have been found in May at Salisbury Cove. Davis (1961): Present in his spruce/fir study plots within the park (Beech Hill) on MDI between 25 June and 5 July 1959; considered a breeding bird. Long (1953) formerly rare or absent in summer, now a local resident in scattered areas on MDI. Encountered it in June near Eagle Lake and at the Great Heath at Seawall. Bond (1949): Exceedingly rare on MDI; Bond observed this species on MDI, once in June and once in October. Bond (19??) rare resident; most numerous in autumn and winter. Tyson and Bond (1941): Very rare (but regular) summer resident on MDI; observed in the vicinity of Bar Harbor Sullivan (1937): Uncommon transient; found occasionally in September and October; one taken in January by Filliettaz (Pellew); very common during the autumn of 1937. Allen (1899): uncommon or local on MDI between 1880 and 1899., Park Species Data Source: Witt (1997); Sharp (1997); North and Chidester (1986); Russell (1984?); Duley and North (1984); Davis (1961); Long (1953)