Re: Steller's Jays - I wonder if most "high" elev. Steller's Jays are there
only because of man's offal, such as at roadside picnic and campsites or ski
resorts during the breeding season. After breeding, they are confirmed upslope
wanderers and don't seem tied to garbage.

Nutcrackers are well-known denizens of ponderosa pines along the east slopes of
the Cascades, particularly near cliffs. I don't know if a documented
association with cliffs is know...just a personal observation. Exceptions of
course. I suspect they cache seeds in clefts in cliffs in a big way (we may
document this this weekend on Tiffany, a stronghold for nutcrackers).
Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA