Clark's Nutcracker in Trouble

Hi Kimberly,
>>
>> Good to hear from you. I'm glad you've been reading and thinking  
>> about Clark's Nutcrackers.
>>
>> I'm still collecting and analyzing my data, so I don't have  
>> definite results yet, but I'm collecting a lot of great data. I'd  
>> be happy to keep you updated.
>>
>> We're in the field almost every day right now, and the nutcrackers  
>> are currently building nests or sitting on eggs.
>>
>> Watch for nutcrackers carrying sticks to build nests, then soon,  
>> watch for nutcrackers with full sublingual pouches bringing food  
>> to their young.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Taza

(Utahbirds listserv)

Clark's Nutcracker Portrait

Clark’s nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) and whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) have intertwined fates:  they participate in a coevolved, mutualistic interaction.  Essentially, the whitebark pine has evolved a nearly exclusive dependence on nutcrackers to disperse its large seeds, and, in turn, nutcrackers utilize fresh and stored whitebark pine seeds as an important food source.

Clark Nutcracker fate

http://klamathbirdingtrails.com/pdf/craterlake/plan-cl-clarks.pdf

CCClark’s Nutcracker was first documented on August 22, 1805, by William 
Clark and was one of the three new bird species described from the historic 
Lewis and Clark expedition (1803-1806), along with Lewis’ Woodpecker and 
Clark’s Grebe.  Clark’s Nutcrackers are found in the high montane whitebark 
pine conifer forests of western North America from Canada and into the 
Cascades and Rockies.