Clark's Nutcracker

Clark’s Nutcrackers bury pine seeds for later meals. Seeds that remain unrecovered can grow into trees, helping renew mountain forests.

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The words

Bristlecone
A type of pine whose forests are used by the birds.
Chipmunks
Small mammals occasionally eaten by this opportunistic feeder.
Cone Scales
The structures from which the bird extracts pine seeds.
Hammering
A method of breaking open seeds held in the feet.
Jeffrey Pine
A pine habitat visited in autumn according to seed availability.
Landmarks
Objects such as rocks or trees used to relocate stored food.
Leeward Side
The sheltered side of a tree chosen for a nest.
Limber Pine
A mountain pine whose stands are used by nutcrackers.
Mineral Soil
Soil added to the floor of the nest.
Pumice
A substrate in which seeds can be cached.
Rolling Calls
The far-carrying sounds exchanged by traveling birds.
Seed Cache
A hidden store of seeds for future feeding.
Seed Dispersal
The bird’s burial of pine seeds can lead to the establishment of trees.
Whitebark Pine
A high-elevation pine associated with the bird’s feeding habitat.
Wood Pulp
Rotten wood material used in the nest cup.