Why is a Walnut Creek Steller's jay doing bird impersonations?

"DEAR JOAN: I'm used to the squawking of Steller's jays, but one regular visitor to our yard mimics the cry of hawks in our area. Have you ever heard of this? Any explanation? Gary Summers, Walnut Creek DEAR GARY: Steller's jays are more than a little bit devious, using their ability to mimic hawk calls to gain an advantage over a food source. They trick other birds and squirrels into thinking a hawk is prowling the area."

"DEAR J.: If all the visiting hummers are Anna's hummingbirds, chances are good that reviews on CHIRP, the avian equivalent of YELP, have given your feeders five stars. Hummers will take advantage of most nectar that's offered, but when the food and ambiance (clean feeders and no predators) are to their liking, word does get around. Anna's hummers are permanent residents in the Bay Area,"

Steller's jays use vocal mimicry of hawk calls to frighten other birds and squirrels, causing them to seek cover and allowing jays to feed unchallenged. Anna's hummingbirds and other migrating hummers readily exploit reliable backyard nectar sources; clean feeders and a predator-free environment increase local attraction. Some increases in feeder traffic result from resident Anna's and from migrating hummers that fuel up before long journeys, sometimes starting as early as July and August. A 13-year-old golden retriever named Oskar maintains a lifelong nightly ritual of playing with a stuffed toy and then sucking on it.

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