Don Balke (North Carolina, B. 1933) "Blue Jay" Signed lower right. Original Watercolor painting on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 13c Blue Jay stamp issued June 10, 1978. One of the most easily recognized and best known birds in North America is the handsomely crested Blue Jay. Originally a bird of the woods, the Blue Jay has now adapted itself to urban parks and gardens. Well known for its mimicry, the Blue Jay is particularly adept at imitating the harsh screams of several hawks. It often screeches at cats and snakes or merely for the pleasure of making a raucous shout. The Blue Jay displays its versatile vocal repertoire most often in autumn, when other birds are quiet. Most familiar of all is the fretful shriek of jay, jay, jay. Henry Thoreau remarked on the "unrelenting steel-cold scream of a jay, unmelted, that never flows into a song, a sort of wintry trumpet, screaming cold; hard, tense, frozen music, like the winter sky itself." However, Blue Jays become silent and furtive during the nesting season. After a courtship in which the male ceremoniously feeds his mate, the pair collect twigs which they haul around until a suitable nest site is found. Unlike many birds, Blue Jays eat almost anything from acorns to mice. In fact, Blue Jays have acquired a dishonorable reputation as devourers of eggs and the young of songbirds. Occasionally, Jays do attack and kill other birds, but they do not endanger the survival of any species. Cunning, inquisitive, full of mischief in the woods, the Blue Jay is part court jester and part colorful, blustery prince. Image Size: 13.5 x 14.5 in. Overall Size: 14 x 17 in. Unframed. (B05054)