I greatly enjoyed your article (Dec. 15) about the Gray Jay. I also had a very pleasant and memorable encounter with this intelligent and lovable bird. In 1971 we took our children and those of our neighbours in Ottawa on our annual hike to High Falls near Petroglyphs Provincial Park. Half way up the trail, we decided to have our elaborate picnic lunch on a nice piece of greenery under shady trees. There, we spread out on two blankets, our goodies, sandwiches, cakes, etc. Before commencing to eat, we all laid back and enjoyed the bird songs and the nature around us. All of a sudden a grey bird swooshed out of a tree branch above us and grabbed a sandwich and took off. We were amazed by this bird and enjoyed the spectacle as he or she gradually cleaned out our picnic lunch. It was a great show and a memory which stuck with me forever.
Peter Adamek, Peterborough
Gray Jay -Tom Northey Algonquin Park – March 2014
