Mr. Foss.... gotta love the Lumberjack bird on your head.. Friendly.. we use to have a couple around our deer camp that would follow you out to your hunting stands... They disappeared after a bad winter and haven't had any since... Do you know anything about there populations and trends?

ND, I don't know about gray jay population trends, whether they are cyclical or not like ruffed grouse. But there's almost never been a time I've gone out into the woods around Ely that a few don't come gliding in in hopes of food.

Saw one about a month ago near Vermilion. Was eating some minnows on the ground. Very friendly birds, didn't seem to spook.

We do some camping out in middle area of Lake County and we always have at least 4 or 5 hanging out by the campsite looking for a hand out. But I will say none have got near as friendly as the one sitting on Steve's head. Usually keep some distance, probably our dog.

I have heard them referred to as Gray Jays, Canadian Jays or Whiskey Jacks.