After another week in the mountains, we bought the jays a new platform feeder. Coming to the top of the car just did not suit their independent nature. The tray feeder was eventually accepted, but not until Oregon Juncos and White-breasted Nuthatches did the reconnaissance work. Here is one of the jays, checking things out from a nearby tree.
Spending a little time watching them reminded us of the words of Isak Dinesen (pen name of Karen Blixen). She wrote,
If only I could so live and so serve the world that after me there should never again be birds in cages.
Fat Finch — Backyard Birds, Birding & Blogging 