Soaring the West on wings of blue...

This bird is one colorful keystone species! This bird is one colorful keystone species! ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ [logo header with donate button]( [Pinyon Jay taking flight © Christina M Selby]( Protectors of the pinyon pines What’s a pinyon jay? Birdwatchers from Oregon to New Mexico are sometimes lucky enough to catch a dazzling sight: A rowdy flock of pinyon jays, covered almost entirely in beautiful blue feathers! Pinyon jays are colorful cousins to crows, members of the family Corvidae. These bright birds are highly social, flying close together in flocks throughout the pinyon-juniper woodlands they call home. Where can they be found? Pinyon jays congregate close to their favorite food source: the seeds of pinyon pines. From the Great Basin in Nevada to the arid mountains of New Mexico, these birds fly in search of tasty and nutritious pinyon pine seeds – individuals can hold as many as 40 at a time in an expandable esophagus! As they cache seeds to eat later, some are forgotten, which is the primary way pinyon pines spread their seeds and continue to reproduce. This relationship between jays and pines makes the pinyon jay a keystone species, meaning its presence affects numerous other species in its ecosystem! So what’s been happening? The troubling truth is that pinyon jay populations are falling due to a variety of threats. Fewer pinyon pine seeds are growing because of climate stressors. Additionally, humans clear cut, thin and burn woodlands to accomplish numerous goals, including increased forage for livestock and a perceived reduction in fire risk. All of this and more is contributing to the decline of the pinyon jay, leading the International Union for Conservation of Nature to list these birds as Vulnerable. How can I help? Protection under the Endangered Species Act would help put pinyon jays on the path to recovery, as well as help many other animals that count on this keystone species. Defenders has formally petitioned the Department of the Interior to list this bird and designate critical habitat. You can help by advocating for listing under the ESA, and by learning more about our work to conserve pinyon jays and other vulnerable wildlife! [Catch up on pinyon jays & woodland wildlife!]( Defenders of Wildlife 1130 17th Street NW • Washington, DC 20036 defenders.org --------------------------------------------------------------- Photo Credit: Pinyon Jay © Christina M Selby This email was sent to {EMAIL} [Update]( your email preferences or [unsubscribe]( [supporter]