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THE BLUE JAY'S SONG

by Jerry Ison

A long, long time ago, when I was just a little boy, my grandfather took me for a walk through a pinewood. We were strolling along, talking about those things only a grandfather and grandson find important. Things like why pine trees are always green. Where do the butterflies go in the winter?

Suddenly, the quiet of the woods was disturbed by the raucous screech of a blue jay. Grandpa held out his arm to stop me and said, "Listen carefully. See if you can catch what he's saying."

I strained to make out some familiar words from the harsh call.

Before any thought of a certain word formed, Grandpa said, "It sounds like he's saying "Thief!" "Thief!", doesn't it?"

Sure enough, now that I was listening for it, "Thief!", "Thief!" was what I was hearing.

"Why does that bird call "Thief!" like that?” I asked.

"Well," began Grandpa, "it all started during the days of The Creation".

Back to when God was filling the air and the streams and seas and forests with the wild animals. He wanted all of them to have as many wonders as possible. He wanted the fishes to glisten, the foxes and bears to be covered with beautiful furs. He wanted the lions, the eagles and the whales to be majestic. He was especially fond of His birds and wanted all of them to be beautiful to look upon and have voices that were pleasing to the ear.

When He started to endow the creatures with these traits. He had a bountiful supply to draw from, but in His joy of creating, God had created so many different kinds. He soon saw that He would run out of both lovely songs and beautiful plumage if He gave each bird both. God had to decide which bird got the song and which one got the plumage. As it was to be, the jay was to get a glorious voice, but a very dull coat. The next bird was the mockingbird. It got the gift of appearance but a voice that was harsh and without melody. The blue jay was instantly jealous of the mockingbird's gorgeous plumage, wanting both it and song for himself. That night the jay stole the mockingbird’s feathers, leaving his own dull ones behind.

When God found out about the theft. He called the two birds before Him. He told the jay that He was going to allow him to keep the lovely plumage. In return, the jay would give his beautiful song to the mockingbird. The jay, being a vain and shallow bird, readily agreed. God then decreed that as punishment for the theft the jay must proclaim to all that could hear that he was a thief. From now on, the only sound the jay would be able to utter would be "Thief!"

“

That, Grandpa explained,” is why to this very day the mockingbird has one of the most pleasing voices of all birds. And celebrates his wondrous gift by singing even into the dusk.”

“And that is why the blue jay has one of the most beautiful of plumages yet must announce to all that he and every one of his kind is a ….

"THIEF!" THIEF!" THIEF!".