Blue jays nest in an unusual structure

Abstract

We describe a successful Blue Jay ( Cyanocitta cristata ) nest in an unusual structure on the side of a building. The nest was located near the edge of the species' range along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. The nest was completely obvious, suggesting that the structure itself provided adequate cover and sercurity for the jays. Blue Jays appear to be declining in some areas of the United States such as the Southeast. Structures such as the one we describe may be more useful in attracting Blue Jays than the nesting platforms available commercially.