Blue Jays are incredible acorn dispersers. Like squirrels and chipmunks, they “cache” (hide/store) thousands of acorns underground each Fall—one study found as many as 3,000–5,000 per Blue Jay, stashed an average of 3/4ths of a mile from where they were picked up. And they sometimes place a small leaf, wood chip, or other item atop where they buried the acorn to help them re-find it. Many of these acorns are never eaten, sprouting into new oak trees instead. Watch closely around oak trees this Fall—you might be amazed at the secret work Blue Jays are doing right in front of you.
Weekly Wildlife Wonderment:
Monarch Butterfly Migration Map
Come back weekly to check-in on where Monarch Butterflies are on their migration southward.
We will update this map every Monday until they reach their overwintering locations, likely around early-November.
These maps were made using iNaturalist observations…thanks to all that contribute observations of this and so many other animals and plants!!
Our mission is to educate, inspire, and empower people to take simple actions to support and sustain wildlife.
Curious for more? We update our content regularly so keep coming back to keep learning more.
