Bird In The News - Piñyon Jay Pinyon Jays are under threat because the tree their named after, the Piñon Pine is seeing a reduction in numbers because of attacks by the bark beetle. Prior to the current monsoon season, New Mexico was ina serious drought (which lingers although lessened). It seems the Piñon Pine is able to protect itself if it’s getting enough water by secreting resin that has components that act as an insecticide. When it is not getting enough water it can’t make resin and so the bark beetle can cause damage. This affects the Piñyon Jay because, as the name suggests, it has symbiotic relationship with the Piñon Pine. The Jay helps spread the seeds around ensuring the tree species continues to thrive. The bird depends on the tree for a major food source. There is currently a campaign to get the Piñyon Jay listed as an endangered species. Let’s hope that effort succeeds. I took the photo back around 2006 at my then home in Ribera. A flock of these birds would visit my bird feeders. They were fun to watch and very gregarious. I do hope the species survives and thrives. #BirdInTheNews #PinyonJay #PiñyonJay #PinonPine #PiñonPine #PiñyonPine #BarkBeetle #SymbioticRelationship #Resin #InsecticideInResin #EndangeredSpecies #Birds #Bird #BirdPhotography #Birding #BirdingPhotography #PhotoByJeriRae (at Ribera, New Mexico) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch3c7siu80S/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
