Clark's Nutcracker

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Clark's Nutcracker

Clark's Nutcracker

Photo taken in Manning Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada. August 2001.
Bob Bolton
on Mar 5, 2006 5:44 pm
Image Type(s): Wildlife
Image ID: 178640

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lcarreau

lcarreau - Nov 4, 2007 7:35 pm - Voted 10/10

Where I grew up in

western Washington's Pierce County, we called these birds CAMP ROBBERS. One time, I was on a
hike leaving from Longmire; these birds were really thick & obnoxios. I can only GUESS how many of them exist in the Cascades, now. I even saw one of them east of the Carbon Glacier. I think they're related to JAYS. Would make a great Alfred Hitchcock movie!!!

Bob Bolton

Bob Bolton - Nov 5, 2007 10:42 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Where I grew up in

Interesting. See the camp robber photos below. Both of my friends have one on a hand in the second photo. Actually these birds ARE jays. Their common name is Gray Jay. They used to be called Canada Jay. The Clark's Nutcrackers are often seen in the same places, but the Gray Jay is the camp robber.

Duane at the junction of the Colorado Trail and the Mt. Massive Trail, September 2000.


John and Duane on the Yellow Aster Butte trail in Washington's North Cascades, November 2003.

lcarreau

lcarreau - Nov 6, 2007 12:01 am - Voted 10/10

Interesting and

incredible at the same time! ALL of the apparent CONFUSION can be corrected by calling these birds by their SCIENTIFIC NAMES. The Gray Jay, or Perisoreus canadensis, can be found from Alaska across Canada, to the n.e. United States.
The Clark's Nutcracker OR Nucifraga columbiana can be found in the Cascade Range.
BOTH are members of the Crow Family.
Now, I'm going to THROW a MONKEY-WRENCH into the WORKS by giving them another name: Whiskeyjacks! You really have me thinking about these birds ,Bob!
HEY. this is EVEN BETTER than watching an Alfred Hitchcock MOVIE. Thanks for all the time that you spend sharing these WONDERFUL pictures!!!

If I had been writing my comment on a laptop in the WOODS, one of these birds WOULD HAVE already EATEN my SANDWICH.
(Is this an advertisement for The North Face? - Thanks & regards to ALL your great photos - TAKE CARE!)

Bob Bolton

Bob Bolton - Nov 6, 2007 1:13 am - Hasn't voted

Re: Interesting and

Nice work on the scientific names! I have a life list of something like 471 observed bird species, but I don't know the scientific names of any of the other 469! And you're right, those birds will make your food disappear in a big hurry! :-) -Bob

lcarreau

lcarreau - Nov 6, 2007 11:31 am - Voted 10/10

Not bragging,

but I took a Mountain Biology class at Green River Community College. It helped me out a lot. I've never been to CAMP ROBBER PEAK in the Alpine Lakes region, BUT I'm sure my LUNCH would DISAPPEAR very FAST there, too! Thanks!!!
(I love the guy who is holding OUT his HANDS!!!)

Bob Bolton

Bob Bolton - Nov 6, 2007 7:09 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Not bragging,

In case you haven't seen it, there's a bird on his right hand. Mountain Biology, eh? Sounds very interesting!

lcarreau

lcarreau - Nov 6, 2007 10:22 pm - Voted 10/10

It blends into

the background, just like the magical bird it is. Please keep doin' it, Bob! So many birds!
So little time!

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