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	Podcast:		Local Features by WXPR
	Episode:		An Ode to the Common Blue Jay
	Category:		Government & Organizations
	Duration:		00:03:48
	Publish Date:		2018-07-05 08:12:30
	Description:		Sometimes animals can be so common that they can be taken for granted, what we call the tragedy of the commons. In this week's episode of Wildlife Matters , the Masked Biologist expresses his appreciation for the very common blue jay. I have shared in previous writings my affinity for members of the Corvid family. Corvids are a group of birds that include crows, ravens, jays, and magpies. Of all the birds in that family, I would say Blue Jays are my favorite. Jays are really fascinating birds. They appear a brilliant blue color. In fact, like bluebirds, the feathers are not an actual blue color; blue jay feathers are brown. However, the microscopic barbs that cover the feathers have modified prismatic cells on their feathers that scatter light waves, reflecting the blue back out. They have a prominent crest on their head that they can raise or lower depending on their state of mind. They have a variety of songs, although some would argue they are not terribly musical. The call for
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