Birders,

On yesterday's Merritt Christmas Bird Count, the Bench subdivision of
Merritt, covered by me with Drs. Glen and Margaret Carlson of Merritt,
was alive with CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS. We conservatively estimated 35
nutcrackers in the subdivision, but there may have been 50 or more.
The total nutcracker tally on the CBC was 82 birds (compared with
zero, 4, and 6 on the three previous Merritt CBCs). It seemed like the
Bench subdivision was "nutcracker heaven".

The Bench subdivision was built into a previously existing ponderosa
pine forest. The nutcrackers were actively foraging for pine seeds all
morning, with up to 15 or 20 being seen at times in a single tree. The
flock was very vocal and constantly on the move, sweeping from one
group of trees into another in a frenzy of constant activity. They
were accompanied by 20 or more RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, which were also
eating pine seeds (!), and 1 or 2 STELLER'S JAYS.

I noticed the same kind of activity in this area on December 10, when
I counted at least 25 Nutcrackers and 8 Red-winged Blackbirds.
Normally, there would only be about 3 to 6 Nutcrackers in the entire
subdivision.

Is anyone else noticing unusually high numbers of Nutcrackers in
ponderosa pine forest, or the kind of feeding frenzy we saw in
Merritt?
There were some unusual movements of nutcrackers last fall, suggesting
a food shortage in parts of the species' range. I am wondering how
widespread the nutcracker "invasion" is, or if it is mainly confined
to Merritt. (On the Kamloops CBC, December 16, I saw no nutcrackers
despite spending considerable time in residential areas in pine
forest.)

Wayne C. Weber
Kamloops, BC
wayne_weber at bc.sympatico.ca