Clark's Nutcracker

Last time we had the Jays we found in Washington and I realize I forgot another bird from Mount Rainier. Not a new bird so it wasn't in the same vein as the others. However, I can't forget the Clark's Nutcracker which is also more in the crow family.

On my first trip out west in the 80s we found several of these birds in several states. I even got a photo of one without trying when I was trying to get a shot of Wizard Island at Crater Lake.



I wasn't even looking for them this trip but there they were way up at Paradise Lodge on Mount Rainier. A pair were flying from one set of pines to another as the sky darkened and the next wave of snow showers began to fall upon us. I had to rush across the icy parking lot to grab a quick shot.



From Cornell Labs, here are a few interesting facts about Clark's Nutcracker:

* The Clark's Nutcracker has a special pouch under its tongue that it uses to carry seeds long distances. The nutcracker harvests seeds from pine trees and takes them away to hide them for later use.

* The Clark's Nutcracker hides thousands and thousands of seeds each year. Laboratory studies have shown that the bird has a tremendous memory and can remember where to find most of the seeds it hides.

* The Clark's Nutcracker feeds its nestlings pine seeds from its many winter stores (caches). Because it feeds the young on stored seeds, the nutcracker can breed as early as January or February, despite the harsh winter weather in its mountain home.

* The Clark's Nutcracker is one of very few members of the crow family where the male incubates the eggs. In jays and crows, taking care of the eggs is for the female only. But the male nutcracker actually develops a brood patch on its chest just like the female, and takes his turn keeping the eggs warm while the female goes off to get seeds out of her caches.