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 takes place during May and June, the peak nesting season for most forest songbirds. As of now, we have monitored 12 sites in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and 11 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 songbird nests, in areas where they are fed, jays find nests in less time (12.06 hours on average in fed vs 42.49 hours in not fed areas) and there is a significant difference between the percentage of nests found in fed (51.42%) vs not fed areas (19.44%).  Our results so far demonstrate a potential impact on the songbird community by humans feeding jays,  but we will continue to sample new sites in Maine and New Hampshire to increase our sample size and gain further clarity on this issue.  

We continue to rely on amateur observers to locate new areas to study in the spring of 2024.  Please consider filling out our survey!  

Last updated November 10, 2023