Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) space use and behavior in campground and non-campground sites in coastal redwood forests

Steller's Jays (Cyanocitta stelleri) in Redwood National and State Parks exhibit altered space use and behavior near campgrounds, likely due to anthropogenic food sources. Despite similar home range sizes between campground and non-campground jays, campground jays showed extensive overlap, suggesting higher local densities. They commuted daily between campgrounds and nocturnal roosts in old-growth forests, with longer commutes correlating with larger home ranges. Campground jays were more ground-oriented and perched frequently, possibly adapting to predictable human-provided food. These findings highlight the direct influence of campgrounds on Steller's Jay behavior, raising concerns about increased nest predation risks for threatened species like Marbled Murrelets.

Goldenberg, W. P., George, T. L., & Black, J. M. (2016). Steller’s Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) space use and behavior in campground and non-campground sites in coastal redwood forests. The Condor, 118(3), 532–541. https://doi.org/10.1650/condor-15-187.1