July 28
Isn't he a handsome fellow! Such a proud papa!
Raising young ones, though, can be stressful.
Don't I know!
Of course, all mine are raised.
August 18
This teenage blue jay seems to be stressing his dad so bad, he's starting to go bald!
August 22
See! What did I tell ya!
No .... his baldness is not really caused by stress.
Apparently Blue Jays go through something called 'molting' once a year in late summer.
I had no idea!
Apparently Blue Jays go through something called 'molting' once a year in late summer.
I had no idea!
August 24
At first I thought he was sick but a quick google search eased my concerns. It is a normal process for birds. Feathers will grow back. But for a period of time until they do, they do look rather odd. Other birds such as hummingbirds, chickadees, hawks, owls and woodpeckers are just a few that go through the same process.
And if you look real close, you can even see his ear!
So the good news for this guy is that he won't be bald forever.
Cause this is Forever!
Introducing my son, The Professor and my brother.
These baldies I love!
(And definitely cuter than Mr. Blue Jay ... but don't tell him that!)
~smile~
59 comments:
These are great shots! I never knew that either. Your baldies look to be a bunch of good looking guys. :)
Awww, that's so sweet! ;)))))
I was unaware of that also. I too would thought it was a sick bird. Instead, he looks extremely embarassed.
What a fun post for the day, Reena, and just the laugh I needed!! I didn't know blue jays did that!! And, yes, some good looking baldies you do have there!! Hope you have a lovely evening!
Sylvia
The birds' necks look so skinny! Looks hardly thick enough to hold up their heads. You capture such fantastic shots!
Brenda
What a cute post!!! And lots of great pictures that you caught! I only learned about molting about a year ago, and the first one I saw was a bluejay, also! I thought it was sick, too!
This is what I like about blogging. I learn the neatest things.
Great shots of the jays.
I have heard God only made a few perfect heads and those he did not cover with hair.
We have geese that molt from about June to August. While they are molting, they can't fly. I didn't know a bluejay molted.
LOL... I guess when people molt, it is forever.
LOL! loved the 3 bald birdies at the end!!!
I love your blog forever!!!
I have five brothers and they all look like your guys!!!!
Smiles Dottie
OMG...I've never seen this! Maybe Southern BJ's keep their mop! :-)
hahaha.....this was awesome!! what good sports your cute birdies are!!
You've got some great Images of the "J's". I see them around here, but never really get a good chance to photograph them. They just never stay in one place long enough.
One question. I've noticed on your comment area that there is row of tab's in a line. How do you get that put in each comment area on each Post you make? Thanks for your help.
That was an interesting story backed up by good images. Instead of polished top I went from dark blond to grey.:)
Well, I learned something. I knew chickens molted, but not other birds. Love the last photo. I work with two baldies. One day my daughter met my other daughter at my work to re-do some extensions she had put in her hair. They guys cornered my daughter and asked her if they could get some of those extensions. haha
LOL I've never seen a bird going bald!
I learn something new every day! Didn't know that about bluejays! You have a handsome bunch of men in your family! ♥
That last shot? Hilarious.
And add cardinals to that list of molting birds. Saw one today that freaked me out just a little.
Love those baldies! Love those jays...sortof....
Just so funny! you capture such amazing photos of birds!
that's too bad for the bluejay. fun shot of the guys.
have a lovely day.
I knew that many if not most birds moult but I have never noticed any baldies in my yard! Great shots! Especially that last one:)
Too funny. Now I challenge you, since you have provided all this information, to show us a picture of a molting hummingbird!
Molting is just a bitch! And that last photo?? Priceless! (giggling now)
thanks for stopping by my place and saying hello. always nice to meet new folks. so impressed by these pictures. either you've got a great lens or a great blind to hide behind but those are some terrific closeups. of course the last shot just made me giggle!
Haha, I like how you ended your post. You are so funny. Poor blue jays though. Bless their little bald heads.
I never realized they go through such a severe molting. I don't think I've ever seen any like that! Love that last shot!
You learn something new everyday..poor little guy, hope his feathers grow back soon:)
Tiffany
Great pictures all around and excellent post.
Fun photos with a little lesson! I love baldies!
haha :) I enjoyed this post.
Nature teaches you so many things! I would've never imagined that a blue jay molts. He does look sickly with this featherless head.
The last photo is just priceless :)
Ah Reena! Mr Blue-Jay is definitely not a pretty look with his balding head - and how cute are those little kids of his!
Yes, our Jays have a bald once per year, but it doesn't matter, 'cause it'll be stronger.
Fantastic shots Reena, they really are blue aren't they!! Thank goodness I'm not the only baldy :)) Great shot of the guys! Thank you!!
You're the best! Such photos, my goodness, and what a head. I had never seen this before either. I had no idea!
And those are some very handsome heads you saved for the end, I appreciate them a lot. Thank you. You are fortunate!
I'm amused that you talk about the child-rearing as the cause of the balding. We've been seeing a number of bald male cardinals around with their young and seemingly no adult female. Frank has been theorizing that single parenting has caused them to lose their feathers. Now I can tell him to relax.. that it's just a normal process. LOVE that photo at the end.
Interesting about the blue jays. I haven't seen that around here, but, they jays here will disappear from time to time. Maybe they're hiding out because they're so ashamed of their bald heads. Now, if they went bald like your three cuties at the end, they wouldn't have to be ashamed at all.
is it coincidence all the men are in blue as well .. identifying with that poor Jay ...
I totally love that last shot! Great series of the blue jays...I had no idea that some birds did this.
That Blue Jay does look sick, but I know it is normal. Great pictures. :) Next the bald picture of your men is hilarious.
glad to hear that little guy is going to be OK. great shots.
Oh I LOVE this post!!!!!!
And my favorite HAS to be the last picture. My dad, grandpa, great grandpa were all bald....and I always wanted to marry one!!! (No such luck;)
Great series of Jays. I never new these existed. Wonderful colour. As for your last shot! That tops them all!
Wonderful photographs, and you make me smile Reena!!!!
I didn't know that about blue jays either. I've had one at the bird bath everyday this week. I rarely see them bathing. I guess he must be trying to wash out the loose feathers. LOL
I love the last picture...
Hugs Madi and Mom
That poor bluejay...I think the vibrant color makes him look more pitiful than other molting birds. (I just didn't think about wild birds molting.) Love your "baldies" image...my dad had just a fringe, as one of my brothers is now experiencing, too.
You are way too cute! But, poor Mr. Bluejay - he does look a bit ghastly. I love the look of a bald-headed man. I think it's sexy. Don't worry, your secret is safe with me. lol! Nice pics. Cheers renna!!
Lovely post! love the pics. I am married to a bald headed man and I think he looks great, like your three here!
Ahahah! Please take a look here to our prime minister mr. Berlusconi: he had a hair transplant. The result is: your baldies are definitely cuter than him! :D
charming little blues.
and those bald heads are
just so kissable:)
-Jennifer
I had no idea they went through this!! Are you sure he's just not the victim of some bad home-done haircut or a 'swirly?' :-)))
So funny.
I actually shot a bald red winged black bird last week and wondered if something was wrong with him (ya know, bugs or something). Guess he was molting too.
Maybe the guys are just molting too. Like, for the last 10 years? ;)
Great shot of the Jays and the ones at the bottom. Priceless.
Ha! I think they're related to the Artist. They sure like him!
Great shots of the Jays!
Now I'm going to have to pay better attention and inspect my own Blue Jays very carefully. Like everyone else, I had no idea that molting would be like this.
My husband is just like your dear fellas!
Your point is valueble for me. Thanks!
My blog:
rachat de credit www.rachatdecredit.net
Hahaha! So funny! All the pretty blue here today ~ even the menfolk's shirts!! ;)
xo Catherine
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