A sure sign of the beginning of the end of summer is the arrival of flocks of Pinyon Jays and Clarks Nutcrackers. Our yard goes from being relatively silent one day to a cacophony of screeches the next as word gets out that the Limber Pine nuts are ready for harvest.
The two species have differing goals for their plunder. The Pinyon Jays seem to grab a nut and then immediately find a hard surface upon which to crack it and eat it. The Nutcrackers, on the other hand, gather numerous nuts in each sitting, stuffing them into their cheeks until they can't fit any more. They then fly off and try to stash the nuts for later consumption. In the meantime the Rock Doves hover at the base of the trees hoping to grab any nuts that fall from the beaks of the birds above.
This is the only time of year I seem to see Clarks Nutcrackers flying in loose flocks. The noise made by dozens of them flying overhead has to be heard to be believed. Their strong wingbeats flapping in unison sound like the approach of a fighter jet!
I was reminded that these birds are not the only consumers of pine nuts when I found a large, fresh bear scat on the trail this morning during my morning run. By the look of the nuts and berries in the scat, the bears are finding plenty to eat right now!
