Blue Jays are extremely difficult to get rid of. They will come in and take over your living space and you have no choice but to live with them. There is a lot that can be done to stop these pests, like using bird netting or making loud noises designed specifically for blue jays, this article has ten easy ways on how you could manage the situation without having to go through all those steps (but they’re still worth it).
Blue Jays are a type of bird that is very difficult to get rid of. There are 10 easy ways to get rid of them. Read more in detail here: what kills blue jays.
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Why would anybody want to get rid of the blue jays, who have inspired everything from a baseball franchise to a Beatles song?
If you’ve never met a blue jay, you may be surprised at how much they’re hated. Just before Atticus Finch reminds Jem and Scout that killing a mockingbird is a sin, he grants them permission to “shoot all the blue jays you want” in To Kill a Mockingbird.
Today, Atticus’ statements would be in violation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, which protects songbirds, including blue jays, from hunters — but even bird enthusiasts despise blue jays, as the Audubon Society confesses.
There are a number of reasons behind this, the most important of which is:
- They have the potential to be quite noisy.
- They, along with other huge “bully birds,” may drive smaller birds away.
- They may consume all of the nuts and seeds in a bird feeder.
- They are often clumsy eaters.
- They are more intelligent than other birds, making them more difficult to fend off.
- They occasionally travel in groups.
- They may be vicious dive bombers who attack anything from animals to police officers.
Blue jays are both lovely singers and jerks in the air.
It, if you’re tired of saying “OK Blue Jays” and want to get rid of them the “Blue Jay Way,” these 10 strategies may help you do so without having to take Atticus’ words literally and start reading up on how to “Kill a Blue Jay.”
1 – a phony owl
Blue jays may be “bully birds,” yet, like most bullies, all it takes for them to shrink in fear and back off is for someone larger to come along. Owls do a good job of filling that need in the wild.
While blue jays are just aggressive songbirds, owls are true predators, and while they don’t specifically target blue jays for their nightly feasting, they aren’t to be taken lightly.
Of course, capturing a wild owl and teaching it or buying and training one aren’t realistic possibilities. Fortunately, a fake owl may be just as effective as the real thing, for the same reason that a scarecrow drives birds away despite not being a danger.
Although blue jays are smarter than the typical bird, they are still birdbrains when it comes to identifying a phony human or owl from the genuine thing.
Blue jays may be scared away by a single fake owl, a few convincing rubber snakes, or something similar.
2 – Obtain a Cat
Of course, if a phony predator doesn’t work, you may have to resort to the real thing. Cats have a natural propensity for hunting birds, and if your cat is an outdoor cat, he or she will be more than delighted to attempt to catch a couple of jays.
They could even proudly bring it back to you to brag about their accomplishments – something you could definitely do without, but one issue at a time.
The wonderful thing about cats is that, even if they don’t really capture the blue jays, they have the same advantage as phony owls and snakes: blue jays see and recognize them and presume (right this time) that they’re a danger, so they avoid the area.
Wind Chimes (n.d.)
Maybe you’re a complete pacifist who doesn’t want a cat pursuing and maybe capturing blue jays, and the danger of a phony owl or snake also doesn’t appeal to you. If that’s the case, wind chimes could be a better option.
They’re absolutely nonviolent, blue jays don’t enjoy the noises they make, and they give you a chance to express yourself.
Aside from the apparent advantage of the sound wind chimes produce, which may be unfamiliar to blue jays and so deter them, the metallic, crystalline, and liquid crystal material used to make many of them is very reflecting. Blue jays may be put off by the brightness and decide not to settle there.
You may buy a wind chime online or construct one yourself. There are many different ways to make wind chimes and patterns, so do some research and determine which approach best meets your requirements and creative vision.
Blast Music (n.d.) (n.d.) (n.d
Birds may be natural singers, but they’re no match for the Byrds, Yardbirds, Eagles, a Flock of Seagulls, or even bands with non-avian names. Whatever music you like, you can bet that the blue jays won’t be able to equal it if the volume is cranked up high enough.
Of course, even if it’s your favorite band, you don’t want to listen to it all day (and even if you want, your neighbors don’t), so try connecting your speakers to a digital device with a timer, or even a security system that detects the presence of a bird.
5 – Use Your Feeder in Novel Ways
If blue jays have taken over your bird feeder, it’s time to upgrade it to deter them from being such bullies and to level the playing field for the other birds that visit.
Examine your bird feeder to discover what, if any, features the blue jay is taking use of, particularly any areas where they may be obstructing other birds’ access to the bird food.
You may want to look at the tubing and mesh surrounding the feeder trays, for example. It should ideally be built such that the mesh surrounds the feeding tube, allowing smaller birds to pass through and into the chamber while blue birds and other big bully birds remain on the outside, consuming the seeds that filter out beyond the mesh.
This is a good balance that enables both large and small birds to eat from your feeder.
6 – Remove any stray seeds
Remember how blue jays have a reputation for being messy eaters? They also have no qualms with turning other birds’ messes into their own little birdy banquet.
If you want to get rid of them, you need to cut off their food supply, which won’t work if there are still enough of seeds for them to eat on the floor even if you restrict them access to the feeder.
If you don’t want scavenging blue jays or other filthy birds cleaning up after you at your bird feeder, clean it up yourself.
7 – Install additional feeders
Perhaps you don’t despise blue jays to the point of wanting to eradicate them entirely. Maybe you still like their bravery and beauty, but you wish they wouldn’t be such a bully to the other birds that use your birdfeeder.
If this is the case, a simple solution to getting rid of them is to put up a separate bird feeder for them, enabling your other birds to eat in peace.
Create a longer perch and place a Coke bottle on top of either end for a more low-tech version of this idea. While smaller, lighter birds should be alright, bigger bully birds like blue jays will be too hefty, causing the bottle to spin and losing their equilibrium.
8 – Vary the Seeds You Offer
Blue jays may be fussy when it comes to the seeds they consume. They don’t like safflower, for example. Serve it and other seeds that blue jays dislike, and they’ll stay away from your feeder.
9 – Determine the perch’s weight
A blue jay’s larger size is usually one of its biggest advantages over the smaller birds they may chase away from feeders.
With a little innovation, you can convert this benefit into a liability by designing weight-sensitive perches with a triggering mechanism that lowers them below the feeding area if anything too heavy sits on them.
This will keep blue jays (as well as other animals such as squirrels) away from the feeder while allowing smaller birds to sit and eat in peace.
Similarly, you may want to think about introducing feeding locations that don’t have a perch at all. Lighter birds, such as hummingbirds, may reach them without rivalry from bigger bully birds, such as blue jays, who require a perch to dine.
10 – A Reflection of Their Nature
Although blue jays are intelligent, they are still birds, which means they are prone to mistaking their reflection for another bird. Placing a mirror inside your feeder or anyplace else where they would see it increases the odds that they will see their reflection and be startled or irritated by this “other” bird.
In any case, there’s a good probability they’ll go off in search of food elsewhere.
Although blue jays are attractive, not everyone wants them to spend all of their time at their bird feeders or in their homes. If you want to tell a blue jay farewell while sending them on their way, the techniques listed above might assist you in doing so in a calm manner.
The “why are there so many blue jays in my yard” is a question that has been asked by many people. In this article, 10 easy ways to get rid of the pesky birds will be given.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you scare away a Blue Jay?
A: No one really knows for sure. One possibility is to create a large noise, like banging pots and pans in order to scare away an animal with sensitive hearing. Another idea would be to make yourself look larger by waving your arms around or jumping up and down from the ground repeatedly.
How do you keep Blue Jays away from your house?
A: I am an automated response to a question asking how to keep Blue Jays away from your house.
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