If a Jay bird is attacking your squirrels then it’s most likely trying to get the baby squirrel to drop its food – a common tactic among jays.
Birds attack squirrels when they can so they can drop their food faster.
They might even peck, as well, to quicken the process. At times, a persistent one will follow the squirrels around and when the squirrel stashes its food, they know the exact location where to find and get it.
All varieties of jay, including blue jays, will take baby squirrels or pinkies right out of the nest and will even attack small squirrels if opportunity presents itself.
Those little devils are more vicious than a lot of people think they are because they are really smart. And when they kill, they do it repeatedly slllllllooooooooowly.
I try my best not to attract ravens/crows/jays/magpies just to keep the hawks away even though I try my best to keep the hawks away myself.
Hawks attack and do mercy killings in general than any bird in the jay family. This is because thy don’t have the power that a hawk has to kill as quickly so they prefer to peck a squirrel baby to death and/or drop them repeatedly.
From experience in my yard, hawks do come and go, whereas once you’ve attracted crows/jays they tend to stick around.
If you know what to listen for, majority of birds make certain calls when an hawk arrives – robins (all thrushes_, warblers/wrens/chickadees, sapsuckers/flickers/woodpeckers etc. – and then you can chase the hawk away yourself.
All the birds mentioned above will also swoop down on a hawk and/or make a racket right around the hawk, making the hunting area unattractive to a hawk and he will leave because all mammals/birds are on guard and won’t be easy meals.
You can help their efforts by getting in on the action.
Jays like crows will also swoop down on hawks or chase them away but aren’t the only birds who do that. So, personally, I don’t see the need to attract jays since they attack squirrels.
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How to Keep Squirrels safe from Hawks and/or Crows/ Jays
Don’t feed the birds and/or leave out nuts/seed for squirrels/birds.
The jays will be less attracted to the area, and the hawks will be less attracted as well since there isn’t much squirrel activity in the area and less birds in the area overall.
Why do Squirrels Eat Birds?
Squirrels will eat baby birds in the nest, and recently fledged because they are easy meals and sources of protein and calcium.
Why do Squirrels Eat Bird Seed?
Squirrels eat bird seed because it is an easy meal rich in vitamins, protein and minerals.
Why do Robins Attack Squirrels?
Squirrel eat bird eggs and so a robin attacking a squirrel is only trying to protect its eggs.
Are Birds Afraid of Squirrels?
Birds are scared of squirrels once they increase in numbers. For instance, birds will still eat on a bird feeder if there are just 1 or 2 squirrels but an increase in number would chase the birds away.
Do Squirrels Eat Birds in UK?
Grey squirrels (an invasive species) and red squirrel will occasionally predate on bird eggs and also kill and eat fledging’s.
Do Magpies Eat Baby Squirrels?
Magpies would attack anything trying to compete with food alongside them
Do Squirrels Kill Birds?
Squirrels kill birds fledging’s, or eggs when there is a shortage of food supply.
Do Crows eat Squirrels?
Not so common but a crow will attack a squirrel for food and protection of their offspring’s.
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