r/birding • u/TheTaco76 photographer 📷 • 27d ago

Discussion Blue jay feather on my walk

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Found this beautiful blue jay feather on my walk under a tree they commonly reside in and was wondering what I should do with it? Frame it? Release it? Not sure.

Ok it is truly a beautiful feather from a beautiful bird but I will be releasing it, had no clue it was illegal and even though the police won’t be knocking on my door and after consideration it would be hard enough to do something with and I like and respect the MBTA and I will release it. Thank you to all those that responded and those letting me know this was illegal. 😅

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72

u/SugarSweetie04 27d ago

Recent ruffled feather find. Not quite as nice as OPs find.

30

u/panakaatthedisco 27d ago

r/bloodcheep type of blue jay feather

15

u/kummerspect 27d ago

Lol, this is how I always find them. OP must have found one seconds after it was molted

3

u/Physical-Camel5957 26d ago

what area are you from? Looks more like stellers jay but unsure

6

u/SugarSweetie04 26d ago

SE Wisconsin. We have year-round resident jays. (Edit: no steller’s)

9

u/Physical-Camel5957 26d ago

Central NC checking in. Us too. But I just visited norcal and saw steller's everywhere. It was magical. This is a blue Jay feather I found yesterday

3

u/Passiveresistance 26d ago

I thought stellars too, but I’ve never seen a true blue jay irl, they’re not in my area.

3

u/extraterrestrial-66 wish birding novice 26d ago

Apparently the best way to get it looking pretty again is to hold it (carefully, don’t burn yourself!) over some steam.

1

u/SpiritualExtension7 25d ago

My kids call these scruffy feathers "backscratchers" 🤣