BLUE BOY
FEATURED in the “OUT OF THE BLUE” GROUP
FEATURED in ‘ANIMAL FANTASY COMPOSITES”
STELLER’S JAY
Recognition:
One of the most striking features of British Columbia’s official bird, is its crest and vibrant blue and black color. The Steller’s Jay SHAACK! SHAACK! cry is a familiar sound to visitors of British Columbia’s provincial and national parks.
However this great mimic can fool the most avid birder with its mixed bag of voices that includes everything from hawk calls to warblings of other song birds.
Haunts:
The Steller’s Jay is found throughout British Columbia’s dense coniferous forests During the summer months it seems especially bold and is often seen around picnic sites and campgrounds. In winter it seeks out more promising food sources in the mixed forests and backyard gardens.
Schedule:
A year around resident, however, each fall there is a distinct movement which brings considerable numbers of Steller’s Jays down to valley bottoms.
Field Notes:
Steller’s Jay is named after George Wilhelm Steller, a German naturalist who made exploratory voyage in the north Pacific in the early 1700s. However if the Steller’s Jay had been named for its behavior it could have easily been called the “Investment Bird”, because of it habit of taking food and storing it elsewhere for future use. And like any good investor it doesn’t put all its “cash” into one area. These perky jays certainly provide us a great deal of pleasure in observing their antics and listening to their bright chatter.
(bird facts from adventurevalley.com)
BLUE BOY belongs to the following groups:
!$ I LOVE BIRDS !, Altered by Design (3 per day), Animal Fantasy & Whimsy, Birds and Creatures of Flight, Bits and Pieces , Canada ~ *4/day - READ RULES*, Creative, Talented, and Unknown, Digital Art Compilations (No Nudity Allowed), Live, Love, Dream: May you have a Blessed Christmas Season , Made By Nature - {2 a day} - {challenge theme only!}, Mature Woman, Nature's Wonders, Out of the Blue (75%+ Blue), PEACE, LOVE & TRANQUILITY, PixElations - The Art of Photoshop, Shameless Self-Promotion, That's Entertainment! (Fun & Recreation Photos), The Addicted Photographer►2 Per Day◄, The Birds, The Woman Photographer **7 Submissions a week only please**, Unconventional Artistry - 3 per day and Vibrant and Vivid Color Available for sale asGreeting Cards and Matted Prints

Sharon K. Shubert
I got your feed Karen!! I guess it worked. This is a gorgeous blue hues work. :)
Karen Tillotson replied
Good morning Sharon! Glad this “came through” on the feed…thanks very much for your great comments, my friend and for the fave as well!!!! =)
Maureen Maliha
Oh, so beautiful. Terrific work, Karen. Lovely!
Our Common Blue Jay is a tough bird :-) I wonder how similar the Stellar is to ours?
Karen Tillotson replied
Thank you so much for your great comments and fave Maureen! The common blue jay (lovely bird) extends from Alberta east throughout the rest of Canada as well as inhabiting much of the States. Apparently the Blue Jay can be credited for planting most of the continent’s oak trees..haha. These two jays are probably very similar in resilience…and similar in size as well…smaller than a crow, bigger than a N. American robin. Never see them in BC though. =)
Tara Turner
so beautiful….love the soft blue tones…you might consider adding this to the ‘Out of the Blue’ group :)
Karen Tillotson replied
Many thanks for your wonderful comments, Tara and also for the fave!!! And I appreciate the tip about that “blue” group…I’ll check it out! =)
Maureen Maliha
Thanks for the info, Karen. Ours took a beating for a while as Cow Birds began to infiltrate nests. It seems, at least in this area, they are making a comeback.
JayneLogan
Investment Bird .. wow .. thanks for the very interesting narrative alongside this GORGEOUS image .. I can see this on the wall of a pretty foyer .. I often think driving in BC thru Roger’s Pass what a magnificent “find” in its original glory.
The jay type bird here is a MAGPIE .. squawk like banshees and are the size of Smart Cars .. Gorgeous!
Karen Tillotson replied
Thanks so much Jayne…yes I’ve seen those flying small cars terrorizing the streets of Calgary…and wow…what an annoying squawk!! Glad you’ve enjoyed the wondrous beauty of this amazing province…it’s a far cry from where I was raised…flat Manitoba with that amazingly big sky! (which admittedly I miss from time to time!)
arvyart
Awesome! Fantastic shot, Karen! Blue boy in the blue world… Thanks for the information along the image. :)
Karen Tillotson replied
Thanks kindly for your great encouraging comments and…wow…for the fave as well!!!!
valzart
Wonderful capture sweetheART delightful work ;} happy hippy hugglez
Karen Tillotson replied
Thank you dear Val as always for your delightful comments and hugglez!
Brian Dodd
Great Work Love the Color:-)
Karen Tillotson replied
Thanks so much Brian for stopping by and your kind comments!
Brian Carey
Lovely work Karen!
Karen Tillotson replied
Thanks Brian!
Svetlana Sewell
Wonderful work and thank you for the history

Karen Tillotson replied
Thank you so much….(love the applause…lol!!!!) =)
Joanne Bradley
Stunning capture! Just love all the blue tones!
Karen Tillotson replied
Thank you very much Joanne. So glad you like it!
Jan Timmons
Cool! I didn’t know this magnificent bird was the official bird. We feel honored to see Steller’s Jays returning to parts of Alaska in late spring. They’re huge and dwarf several of our feeders.
Great shot, Karen, and good information.
Karen Tillotson replied
Thanks a bunch Jan for the awesome comments! Yes, they’re too big to perch nicely at a feeder …when they come to my feeders, they tend to crash into them and knock all the seed to the ground….I think that’s pretty clever actually..(but it sure makes a mess! lol.)Thanks so much for the fave too!!!! =)
Scott d'Almeida
fabulous
Karen Tillotson replied
Thanks so much Scott!
LouDuk
Beautiful capture
Karen Tillotson replied
Thank you so very much!!!
nadine henley
lovely lil fella and great treatment karen!
Karen Tillotson replied
Thank you my dear friend! Love these beautiful guys…their colouring simply knocks my socks off!
PrairieRose
Your composition is spot on…...........Those beautiful blue tones are really something special Karen….........
I really LOVE this piece…........
hugs, Rosie xoxox
Karen Tillotson replied
Ah Rosie…you have put a big giant grin on my face with your wonderful comments. Your support means so much! Thank you my dear friend and I’m everso grateful you have added this little blue beauty to your faves! xxxx
Vicki Ferrari
This is brilliant Karen! Fave!
Karen Tillotson replied
Thank you so much Vicki! and so grateful for the fave!
lorilee
BEAUTIFUL!!!!
Karen Tillotson replied
Wonderful to have your great support Lorilee! Thanks so much and also for the fave!!!!!
Colleen Battis...
Lovely :-)
Karen Tillotson replied
Thanks so much for your visit, comment and fave, Colleen…much appreciated!
Colleen Battis...
We would love to have you in the new group Animal Fantasy Composites this image would be a lovely addition to our growing gallery :-)
Karen Tillotson replied
Very kind of you…thank you.
Michelle Barlo...
BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO
Karen Tillotson replied
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! So grateful for your visit!
Antanas
lovely work….
Karen Tillotson replied
I’m so pleased and grateful for your wonderful comment and fave! Thank you so much!
serj92
beautiful
Karen Tillotson replied
Thanks kindly for your visit and comment! Much appreciated!
Paulette x
Beautiful
Karen Tillotson replied
Thanks so much for your kind comment Paulette! =)
Jennifer Woodward
stunning work!
Karen Tillotson replied
Hi Jennifer…thank you so much for your visit, lovely comment and the fave! Much appreciated! =)
macro magnon
Beautiful tone and treatment and this guy is so proud to sing… Great capture !
Karen Tillotson replied
Thank you my dear Magnon! I’m so very pleased that you like it!
Geoffrey Dunn
Gorgeous deep blue … love the whole mood of this image … nice work!
Karen Tillotson replied
Thanks Geoffrey…your comments are most encouraging!
Colleen Battis...
Congratulations! This work has been featured in Animal Fantasy Composites!
Karen Tillotson replied
Wow…what a lovely surprise! Thank you so much!
Sharon K. Shubert
A big CONGRATULATIONS on the feature Karen! :)
Karen Tillotson replied
Thanks so very much Sharon…I was out pulling weeds (argh) and came in for a little Redbubble break….what a great surprise! (Sure beats the heck out of this gardening business…lol!)
ldeiter78
Another beautiful image Karen! Love your work!
Karen Tillotson replied
Thank you so very much! What a lovely thing to say! =)
CarolM
Very unique, Karen with the blue hues. Works great and the title is just right for it. You did a wonderful job on this image.
Karen Tillotson replied
Very much appreciate your great support Carol…thanks!
Lois Bryan
What a beauty … I love the deep shades of blues … and your jay is magnificent!!!!! congratualtions on your wonderful and VERY well deserved features sweetie!!! YAY!!!!!
Karen Tillotson replied
Thank you Lois. These jays (pertinent to British Columbia) are such an electric shade of blue and I get such a kick out of their rowdy personalities! They can be extremely funny in their antics and then be completely knock-your-socks-off-beautiful and oh so very elegant! I have scads of jay photos…they’re so fascinating to “study”!!!!
Lois Bryan
I have to laugh … my computer needs a “cleaning” and the first thing I’ll have to go to is all my bird shots (have WAY too many) ... but … every time I get started … I find one I KNOW I can tinker with and make pretty … so off I go to Photoshop … while the photo library sits in the background and balloooooooons and ballooooooons!!!!! So you post those wonderful jay shots!!! We’re out here waiting!!!!
Karen Tillotson replied
I think we’re sharing the same brain when it comes to cleaning up the files….argggggghhhhh. (Haha!)
Peter Lessey
Aaahhh… yes this is very, very pleasing to both my eyes and restless soul. You have captured and great detail and quality in this one Karen.
Very well seen and captured. – Peter
Karen Tillotson replied
Wow Peter! Thanks again!!! Your encouragement and support means so very much to me. Sending you a big hug!!!
GiGee
What a beautiful image, you have done this so well.
Karen Tillotson replied
I’m so glad you like this….thank you very much for your visit and wonderful comment.
Dave & Trena P...
simply stunning!
Karen Tillotson replied
So glad you like this…the Steller’s are wonderful….full of character, charm and major attitude!!!! Thank you so much.
Trish Woodford
This is stunning Karen, an instant fave for me. Love the blue hues and darker tones, lovely capture of a beautiful bird :)
Karen Tillotson replied
Thanks very much Trish and I’m so grateful for the fave. I was really very happy with how this turned out and just recently matted & framed a large version of it to hang in our local artists’ gallery here in our tiny little town. (A quaint little place that’s drawing some fabulous tourist traffic.) xo
Cyndi Pay
Karen, I LOVE this one so much!! I love Steller Jays!
hedwardbrooks 17 days ago
thanks for the wow.
Karen Tillotson replied 17 days ago
Thanks very much for having a look and the faves!
And, you’re welcome!