Brandt’s Jay – Garrulus Brandti – Original Hand-Coloured Lithograph

Engraver: John Gerrard Keulemans
Publisher: L’Imprimerie Nationale
Price: £65
Publication Date: Not dated but c.1876
Format: Original hand-coloured lithograph
Condition: In very good condition, unframed
Sheet Size: Sheet Size: 32.5cm x 25cm

Condition:

Original hand-coloured lithograph. Minor age-toning to the margins. In very good indeed, clean condition overall. A rare plate from this important work.

Location: Map Drawer B: FS: Folder JGK 001878

Brandt’s Jay: A Brief Description

The Brandt’s Jay (Garrulus brandti) is a striking and colourful species of bird in the Corvidae family, closely related to the more widespread Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius). It is found primarily in the mountainous forests of eastern Asia, including parts of Russia, China, Mongolia, and North Korea. This bird is known for its bold behaviour, vocalisations, and striking plumage, making it a distinctive inhabitant of the regions where it occurs.

Physical Description:

• Size: Brandt’s Jay is a medium-sized bird, measuring about 32 to 35 cm (13 to 14 inches) in length. It has a robust build, with a strong, slightly curved bill and a long tail.
• Plumage: The bird’s plumage is particularly eye-catching, with shades of blue, grey, and white. The body is primarily greyish-brown, with a bluish tinge to the wings and tail. The wings are marked with bold black and white bands, giving them a distinctive appearance in flight.
• Head and Crest: One of the most notable features of Brandt’s Jay is its prominent crest, which can be raised or lowered depending on the bird’s mood. The head is largely grey with a black cap extending from the forehead to the nape, which contrasts with its pale face.
• Tail and Wings: The tail is long and blue with subtle barring, while the wings display black and white barring that is highly visible during flight.
• Bill and Feet: The bill is black, strong, and slightly hooked, well-suited for foraging and breaking into nuts or seeds. The feet and legs are also black.

Distribution and Habitat:

• Range: Brandt’s Jay is native to the temperate forests of eastern Asia, primarily found in Russia, northeastern China, Mongolia, and North Korea. It inhabits a range of altitudes, from lowland forests to mountainous regions.
• Habitat: This species prefers mixed or coniferous forests, especially those with mature trees that provide plenty of cover and food resources. It is often found in dense woodlands, including pine, spruce, and birch forests, where it forages on the ground and in trees.

Diet and Foraging:

• Omnivorous Diet: Like many jays, Brandt’s Jay is omnivorous, feeding on a wide variety of foods depending on the season. Its diet includes insects, small invertebrates, seeds, berries, and nuts. It is also known to eat eggs and small vertebrates when available.
• Foraging Behaviour: Brandt’s Jay is an opportunistic feeder, often foraging on the ground or in trees. It uses its strong bill to dig into the soil or break open seeds and nuts. It is known to store food for later use, particularly during autumn, when it caches seeds and nuts to help it survive the winter months.

Breeding and Nesting:

• Breeding Season: The breeding season for Brandt’s Jay typically begins in late spring, with pairs forming territories that they defend vigorously.
• Nesting: The nest is usually built high up in a tree, made of twigs, grasses, and moss. It is often well-hidden within dense foliage to protect it from predators.
• Clutch Size: The female lays 4 to 6 eggs, which are pale green or blue with brown speckles. Both parents participate in incubating the eggs, which hatch after about 16 to 18 days.
• Parental Care: After hatching, both parents feed and care for the chicks, which fledge about three weeks after hatching. Even after fledging, the young may remain with the parents for some time before becoming fully independent.

Vocalisations:

Brandt’s Jay is a highly vocal bird, known for its wide range of calls and sounds. It can produce harsh, loud squawks, as well as softer, more musical notes. Like other members of the jay family, it is also capable of mimicking the calls of other birds, which it uses to its advantage when communicating or defending its territory.

Behaviour:

• Social Structure: Brandt’s Jay is typically seen alone or in pairs during the breeding season but may gather in small groups outside of the breeding period. It is a bold and inquisitive bird, often exploring its surroundings and investigating food sources.
• Territoriality: During the breeding season, Brandt’s Jay can be highly territorial, defending its nesting area from intruders, including other birds. It may chase off smaller birds and animals that approach too closely.
• Intelligence: As with many corvids, Brandt’s Jay is considered highly intelligent. It is known for its problem-solving abilities, food storage behaviour, and adaptability to different environments.

Conservation Status:

Brandt’s Jay is currently listed as a species of Least Concern by the IUCN, largely due to its wide distribution and stable population. While it may face some pressure from habitat loss and deforestation in parts of its range, it is not considered at immediate risk of decline.

Ecological Role:

As a seed disperser, Brandt’s Jay plays a key role in its ecosystem. By caching seeds and nuts in various locations, the bird inadvertently helps to promote forest regeneration, as some of the stored seeds are left to germinate. This behaviour is particularly important in maintaining the health of forested areas where the species is found.

Interesting Facts:

• Food Caching: Like other jays, Brandt’s Jay stores food for later use, especially during the autumn months. It is known to hide seeds and nuts in the ground or in tree crevices, and its excellent memory allows it to retrieve these food items during the winter when food is scarce.
• Close Relative to Eurasian Jay: Although closely related to the Eurasian Jay, Brandt’s Jay has several differences in plumage and vocalisations, leading to its classification as a separate species. Its distribution is also more restricted compared to the more widespread Eurasian Jay.

In summary, Brandt’s Jay is a beautiful and highly adaptable bird, known for its intelligence, bold plumage, and opportunistic feeding habits. Its presence in the forests of eastern Asia adds vibrancy to its habitat, where it plays an important role as both a predator of insects and a disperser of seeds. Its social nature and vocal capabilities also make it a fascinating species to observe in the wild.

John Gerrard Keulemans: A Short Biography

John Gerrard Keulemans (1842–1912) was a prolific and influential Dutch bird illustrator whose work remains celebrated for its accuracy and artistic detail. He was born on June 8, 1842, in Rotterdam, Netherlands. From a young age, he showed an interest in natural history, particularly in birds, and this passion guided him toward a career in scientific illustration.

Early Life and Career

Keulemans studied under Hermann Schlegel at the Natural History Museum in Leiden, where he honed his skills as a naturalist and artist. This connection led to one of his early assignments: joining an expedition to West Africa in 1864 to collect specimens. His work during this period helped him establish his reputation as both a naturalist and an illustrator. He documented various species of birds, adding greatly to the knowledge of African avifauna.

Move to London and Prolific Period

In 1869, Keulemans moved to England, where he would spend the rest of his career. London at that time was a hub of scientific research and publishing, making it an ideal base for an artist like Keulemans. He quickly became a leading illustrator for many of the major ornithological works of the 19th century.

Major Works

Keulemans illustrated more than 100 books on natural history, with his most famous contributions to:

• “The Birds of Great Britain” (1862–1873) by John Gould – Keulemans contributed to many of Gould’s other works, but this publication remains one of the most significant.
• “A History of the Birds of New Zealand” (1873, 1888, 1906) by Sir Walter Buller – Keulemans’ illustrations were essential to the understanding of New Zealand’s birdlife.
• “The Ibis” and “Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London” – leading ornithological journals where Keulemans’ works regularly appeared.
• “The Avifauna of Laysan” and “The Birds of the Hawaiian Islands” by R. C. L. Perkins.

Keulemans’ distinctive style involved the meticulous depiction of birds in natural, life-like poses. His plates were highly detailed, showcasing the nuances of feathers and anatomy, and he often portrayed birds in natural habitats to highlight their behaviour and environment.

Style and Techniques

Keulemans mainly worked in lithography, a printmaking process that allowed for mass production of his artwork while maintaining high-quality detail. He was known for his ability to bring a bird’s plumage and colour to life on paper, despite the limitations of the printing techniques of the time. His method involved working with specimens, either from museums or from field collections, to create scientifically accurate and dynamic illustrations.

Personal Life

Keulemans lived in England for much of his life and married in 1871. He fathered 11 children, though only six survived into adulthood. Despite his immense output and contributions to science, Keulemans often struggled financially, a common challenge for many illustrators of his era.

Legacy

John Gerrard Keulemans passed away on March 29, 1912, in Ilford, Essex, England. His legacy is firmly cemented in the world of ornithological illustration. His works continue to be highly regarded for their scientific value and artistic beauty. Many of his original illustrations are held in museums and private collections, and his detailed depictions are still referenced by ornithologists and bird enthusiasts today.

Keulemans’ work represents an important bridge between the art of the natural world and scientific inquiry, providing invaluable insight into bird species from around the world during a period when photography was still in its infancy. His illustrations remain among the finest examples of ornithological art.

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