In May of 2022, we began comparing jay behavior and levels of nest predation between control sites where no human feeding has been observed, and experimental study sites located at popular lunch spots for hikers, where feeding has been well documented. Our research took place during May and June, the peak nesting season for most forest songbirds. On each study site, we did 10-minute behavioral observations of the jays and captured jays using a foldable potter trap. Once captured, we weighed, measured, and banded the birds with numbered aluminum and colored leg bands. To study nest predation, we set up four artificial nests within each study plot, which were monitored with game cameras. We also set up a small acoustic device to record songbird activity at each site.  

As of 2024, we have monitored 20 sites in Northern New Hampshire and 13 sites in Western and Northern Maine. The results from our behavioral observations show that in areas where the jays are routinely fed by humans, jays approach closer to humans, usually landing on someone's hand to take food, and spend much more time near people. In areas where they are not fed, they rarely approach within 50 feet of people, and show no interest in human food. In terms of their predation on artificial nests, in areas where they are fed, jays find nests in less time (9.94 hours on average in fed vs 42.49 hours in not fed areas) and there is a significantly higher proportion of overall nest predation in fed (75% of sites) vs not fed areas (31% of sites).  Our results so far demonstrate a potential impact on the songbird community by humans feeding jays,  but we need more data to quantify the level of human interactions on our sites to look for direct correlations.  

Our goal for the the next stage of the research project is to compare spatial patterns of habitat use of Canada jays between experimental and control sites using cellular GPS trackers. Using this new technology, we will be able to quantify territory size and degree of territory overlap on our study sites. 

We continue to rely on amateur observers to locate new areas to study, study human interactions, and monitor jay density at our sites.  

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Last updated November 10, 2023