Beware the Blue Jay

I suspected there was a blue jay nest in next door's evergreen tree because I had seen much flitting about for awhile.  Grown up birds spent the days going back and forth to this tree.  This made me smile; while the jays are very squawky, they are pretty.

I ventured out to cut off the dead tulips in the break in the rain.  I gathered my clippers and garden gloves and made towards the gate beside this evergreen tree.  A movement caught my eye - an adult jay was jumping from branch to branch.  I shut the gate behind me and turned toward the front of the house.  That bloody jay swooped down and hit me in the head.  It actually made contact!  And  it hurt too.  I continued down the path toward the front thinking okay this fucking bird will leave me alone if I move away from the tree and the nest.  No,  this bird swooped again and hit me even harder! What was its problem?

It was then I looked ahead.  There, on the ground about 5 feet in front of me was a scruffy looking baby jay toddling its way along the path.  Before I got pummelled again, I decided the tulips could wait and beat a hasty retreat.

That little bird better move out soon so this mummy bird can relax and we can go out that gate without being attacked.