Date: 9/8/26 10:25 am From: Paul Collins via groups.io <Paul...> Subject: Re: [sbcobirding] Clark's Nutcrackers
Robert:
Below is the word version for the Clark’s Nutcracker species account that was recently published in volume 2 of the Birds of California’s Channel Islands book. This will give you details on when the species has been recorded on the Channel Islands. I would think that some of the birds seen recently on La Cumbre Peak could disperse out to Santa Cruz Island and potentially overwinter on the island given the extent of closed cone pine forests on this island. If you have not yet heard about this two volume book about the Birds of California’s Channel Islands, you should visit the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s store site (publications). The book can be purchased directly through the Museum’s web site or in person by coming to the Museum’s store in Mission Canyon.
Paul Collins
CLARK’S NUTCRACKER Nucifraga columbiana
Very rare and irregular fall transient and winter visitor on Santa Cruz and Santa Catalina: early October–1 April. Recorded in conifer forests on Santa Cruz during winters 1919–1920 and 1972–1973, and recently in February, March, and November 2017. At least three records of singles on Santa Catalina in winter 1941, November 1990, and January 1997. The 1919–1920 and 1972–1973 records on Santa Cruz, and the 1996–1997 records on Santa Catalina, all occurred during invasion years when the species was found in lowland areas well away from their higher-elevation conifer forest breeding habitat (Davis and Williams 1957, Garrett and Dunn 1981, Unitt 2004b, Lehman 2022). Other scattered fall and winter records from the islands have occurred during non-invasion years and probably represent infrequent dispersal events away from breeding habitat. Four fall records from Southeast Farallon Island, 28 September–27 October, provide further evidence of nutcrackers crossing significant water barriers (Richardson et al. 2003).
Santa Cruz. Irregular fall transient and winter visitor, one spring record: 12 OCT–1 APR. Maximum: in fall, 3 on 12 and 21 OCT 1972; in winter, 3 on 17 FEB 1973; in spring, 5 on 1 APR 1920. Clark’s Nutcrackers were recorded at the island during winter 1919–1920 and 1972–1973, both at times the species was invading coastal California lowlands (Davis and Williams 1957, Garrett and Dunn 1981). They were not seen again on the island until FEB and NOV 2017.
Historical Status. Clark’s Nutcrackers were seen from early OCT 1919 until 1 APR 1920 (Hoffmann 1920a, Dickey and Van Rossem 1923). Ranch hands first reported seeing birds in the island’s conifer forests in early OCT 1919 (fide AJvR). Scattered birds were next seen at the island in JAN and again during the first week of APR 1920 (Hoffmann 1920a). Between 25 MAR and 1 APR 1920, 11 Clark’s Nutcrackers were observed in Bishop Pine forests (Dickey and Van Rossem 1923), with 5 males collected 25–29 MAR 1920 (AJvR; UCLA 3722, 3723, 3731, 3750, 3751). Residents on the island at the time also reported having seen nutcrackers for the past two years but were unable to provide precise arrival dates or whether the birds exhibited any breeding activity (Dickey and Van Rossem 1923). The birds collected in MAR 1920 showed no evidence (e.g., enlarged testes) of breeding activity, but their crops were packed with “white meats of shelled pine nuts” (Dickey and Van Rossem 1923), which is the species’ principal food (Tomback 1998). No nutcrackers were observed in AUG 1922, and island residents reported then that they had not seen any for several months (Dickey and Van Rossem 1923).
Recent Status. Nutcrackers were not seen again on the island until winter 1972–1973. Recent records: singles observed in upper Sauces Canyon 12 and 21 OCT 1972 (LL); 3 in the western pines 17 FEB 1973 (HLJ; AB 27:664); singles observed in the western pines 15–16 FEB (AaHu), 29 MAR (AaHu), and 10 NOV 2017 (KiSa, AsGr).
Santa Catalina. Rare fall transient and winter visitor. The cattle foreman for the Wrigley Company reported seeing Clark’s Nutcrackers in winter 1941 (ToWh, fide GW). Solitary birds were observed at Fourth of July Cove the first week of NOV 1990 (Jones 1991) and during count week of the 5 JAN 1997 CBC (NASFN 51:639).
From: <main...> <main...> On Behalf Of Robert van de Hoek via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, September 08, 2026 4:02 AM
To: <jimhodgson...>; Santa Barbara Birding <main...>; <craig.prater.sb...>
Subject: Re: [sbcobirding] Clark's Nutcrackers
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Hdllo All. Why does this behavior occur of a "montane push" as to any theories?
Clark's Nutcracker showed up in September approximately 100 years ago, circa 1930 on Santa Cruz Island.
Reported in an article in CONDOR by Ralph Hoffmann - here is a AI Google summary and more can be found ISLAPEDIA and the actual Condor article too.
Could these Clark's Nutcracker possibly fly south across the Santa Barbara Channel to Santa Cruz Island and is this a periodic pattern at lower elevations?
There are pine trees on Santa Cruz Island that could serve as food source if the vagrancy were to occur?
" Famed ornithologist and naturalist Ralph Hoffmann documented an early historical record of the Clark's Nutcracker on Santa Cruz Island in September 1920 (The Condor 22(5):187)."
Roy - Robert van de Hoek, Sylmar - Los Angeles, CA
Following up on Jim's message, we arrived about at La Cumbre Peak 30 mins after the Clark's flew off to the west. On our way back homr we checked every stand of pine trees accessible on East Camino Cielo from La Cumbre Peak back to the 154 and didn't the Nutcrackers. So it's an interesting question where they go from La Cumbre Peak.
Hi all, following up on Hugh’s post from this morning, a group of 5 of us had a flock of 34 Clark’s Nutcrackers flying west over the peak. We were unable to relocate them after that. Also seen in the vicinity of the peak and including an area of pines to the west of the peak were all 3 nuthatches and a Mountain Chickadee was heard. It’s looking like there might be some sort of montane push happening. Along with the afore mentioned birds also seen were 2 Olive-sided Flycatchers, Western Wood Pewees a Stellar’s Jay and a Northern Pygmy Owl being mobbed by the locals. It seems to be an area worth watching.
I just had a phone call from Peter Gaede. He and a few others are at La Cumbre Peak and just had a flock of 34 nutcrackers fly over heading west. They might have landed and they're currently trying to find them
