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Clark’s nutcracker at Crater Lake
Posted by: Chris Clarke
Note: A database glitch in 2008 ate a bunch of archived comments. Don't be offended if yours isn't here, or confused if the conversation seems disjointed. Thanks!
My favorite North-American corvid. I think. Never seen any of the cyanocoraxes…
By: By microecos on 2007 07 30
We pulled off road to observe three blue whales and some number of dolphins (species undetermined) approximately 1,000 yards off-shore. Another two large cetaceans (species undetermined) observed approximately 2,000 yards offshore. Lifetime first, between Limekiln and Julia Pfeiffer Burns.
By: By MBW on 2007 08 01
Hmm. Was observing Nucifraga columbiana myself, not two days prior (well, actually, two days prior) to your own encounter, not more than 100 miles north along the Cascade crest, in a whitebark pine stand on the Tam-McArthur Rim (fantastic trail - not to be missed.) Had a view from there (it was a very clear day) of the entire High Cascade volcano chain from Mt. Adams in Washington to Diamond Peak near Crater Lake (Adams, Hood, Jefferson, Three-Fingered Jack, Washington, Three Sisters, Diamond Peak - St. Helens was hidden behind Hood. I’m told on a clear day Shasta is visible from this location). Giant lava bombs with weird fluted skins on the ridgetop. The previous day, we were at the pitcher plant fens near Mt. Eddy, having camped in Deadfall Meadows the night before. So, one might ask, are you following me around, or vice versa? Also, I believe intrepid CRN commenter Spyder was in attendance at the faerie fest deep in the woods of NW Oregon in which I also became entangled over the weekend, although I’m sorry to say I missed the playshop for which he was impaneled. Thanks everyone for occupying similar spaces nearly simultaneously!
By: By Fred Levitan on 2007 08 01
Ah, love those ‘crackers! Last summer I backpacked to a wonderful spot called Elk Cove, at timberline on the north-northeastern side of Mt. Hood. Wildflowers were rampant, and at the head of a meadow fresh snowmelt cascaded in a silver stream down a rocky slope.
On the wet rocks and moss surrounding the stream thousands of newly hatched, fat black gnats were gathered. A pair of nutcrackers sat at the water’s edge, scooping up beakful after beakful of the swarming insects. Intent on this bounty, they paid practically no attention to us; we approached to within five or six feet and watched for a good fifteen minutes before moving on.
This was especially interesting since insects are a relatively rare item on nutcrackers’ menus.
By: By Romy B. on 2007 08 02
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