Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/09/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Above 9000' elevation in the eastern Sierra Nevada mountains, cones of the Sugar Pine tree are ripening and opening to let their seeds fall. Numerous species feast on the pine nuts and several species of birds have developed their own techniques for getting a piece of the action. The Pinyon Jay (no photos) has learned to hover just below the open cones and look for nut that have not yet fallen, then snatching the morsels in mid-flight. Clark's Nutcracker http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/corvidae/clnu00.jpg http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/corvidae/clnu01.jpg has a powerful bill that he uses, woodpecker-style, to break the cones apart. The Steller's Jay has neither the Pinyon jay's hovering ability nor the Nutcracker's cone-cracking bill so this species has a technique which perhaps can best be described as "smash and grab". This jay flies almost straight up and crashes into the cone with its beak, knocking some of the nuts loose. http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/corvidae/stja01.jpg http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/corvidae/stja02.jpg All photos: R8/DMR, ISO 400, 560mm f/6.8 + 1.4x APO-Extender-R, shoulder stock & monopod, shutter speed about 1/1500 sec, full aperture. Location is SW of Reno Nevada. All comments welcome. Doug Herr Birdman of Sacramento http://www.wildlightphoto.com