Summary

  • Status in VT: Decreased by 14% (7 to 6 blocks). Loss occurred in the Northeastern Highlands.
  • Data from other research: Victory Bog: 20-year study shows fewer territorial pairs in recent years.
  • Conservation status: State rank S2; SSC; SGCN-M
  • Other atlases: ON: stable or increasing distribution
  • VT’s role in North American range: VT is near the southern edge of the range.
  • Causes of change since first Atlas: Heavy logging (?); “hoard-rot” hypothesis suggests that higher than average temperatures in autumn could contribute to poorer than average productivity in the following breeding season.
  • Management/Monitoring recommendations: Monitor trends through targeted surveys; determine minimum area of suitable habitat necessary to support 500 breeding pairs.

First Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas (1976-1981)

Species Account

Second Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas (2003 – 2007)

Gray Jay Map 1 Gray Jay Table 1 Gray Jay Table 2

Change in Distribution

mapkey Gray Jay Map 2 Gray Jay Table 3

Links

Vermont eBird

Encyclopedia of Life

All About Birds