Dr. Ryan Norris and his graduate students study the population of Gray Jays in Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada.
The Gray Jay
Gray Jays are song birds living year-round in the northern forests of North America and raising chicks in the dark of winter.
Gray Jays are highly curious and will eat just about anything. These birds have even been known to grab a raisin or peanut right out of a person's hand.
During the summer months the Gray Jays stash food in trees to sustain them through the winter months.
Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada
Algonquin Provincial Park established in 1893 is the oldest provincial park in Canada. The park is about 7,653 sq.km. (2,955 sq.mi.) in size. The park encompasses over 2,400 lakes and 1,200 km. of streams and rivers.
Gray Jay Population Study
Dan Strickland started researching the Gray Jay population in Algonquin Provincial Park in the early 1970's.
Dr. Ryan Norris, Associate Professor & University Research Chair Dept of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, and his team search the park each year to locate new Gray Jay nests. Their research has shown a 50% decline in the population of Gray Jays in the park since the early 1970's.
A changing climate has led to warmer temperatures in the park. Dr. Norris suggests that this is causing the Gray Jay's food caches to spoil which in turn is causing a decline in the survival rate of Gray Jays in the park.
4 minute video of Dr. Norris and his team locating Gray Jay nests (Part One of the research process)
Published by LabofOrnithology on 11 January 2018
Sources
Gray Jay, The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's All About Birds website
LabofOrnithology, YouTube Channel
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