Attracting Blue Jays

by Michelle D.
(Florida)

I don't have a birding story yet, but I'm working on it! I'm just starting to put out seed & water again to attract the birds after a 5+ year hiatus, and I want especially to attract Blue Jays. I know they're common, not flashy, loud & can sometimes be bullies to the other birds but I like them - a lot. They have personality & are really comical to me. Several years ago I had a dozen or so that would come by regularly for peanuts. Unfortunately when you attract birds sometimes you get feral cats. One of those cats got one of the Jays & I rescued the mostly dead bird from the bushes. It didn't live long enough to tell the other Jays that I wasn't the responsible party. The other Jays started squawking so loudly it rivaled any rock concert I've ever been to. I was framed for the crime, and now apparently this story has been passed down through the generations of the Blue Jay community in my neighborhood. It's been about three weeks now since I've started back putting out food & peanuts & they absolutely do not want to come in my yard. Any suggestions on earning back their trust???