Where are the Jays?

Near Pond

Entrance Brood

Entrance Brood

Red Butte was filled with the sound of noisy Magpies. I saw at least three and likely, four broods of the slightly smaller fledges in my walk around the garden area today. Pure joy watching what I think was their first foray outside the nest. The first group was near the orangeries, not very far from the nest near the entrance and I assume this is the brood from that location. The second and I think third, were on the north side of the pond. The last, just up the trail near the moose sculpture. I wonder if the mild winter/spring weather has contributed to this bumper crop of Magpies, and, if it has reduced the presence of Scrub Jays? I haven't heard or seen one there in awhile. Lots of singing Lazuli Buntings on the upper trail, and I caught a brief glimpse of a Warbling Vireo. My intent today was to shoot hummingbirds, and while I did see and hear a couple of them, opportunities for pics just weren't there.