Birds in Nature - images of wild birds by Richard Ditch

Subject: Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana)
Place: Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior, AZ, USA
Date: November 2002
Equipment: Nikon N90S, Nikkor AF-S 300/2.8 & TC20E (= 600/5.6), tripod
Film: Fuji Sensia 100
Exposure: Aperture priority matrix metered
Scan: Minolta Dimage, 80% of frame

Commentary: Clark's Nutcracker is a high elevation bird in Arizona, and it was a surprise to find this individual at the lower elevations of this park. To my knowledge, it is only the second of this species recorded there (Steve Ganley has informed me of a bird in the same garden in 1996 - thanks Steve!). With the continuing drought conditions in the state, and the extensive damage to the forests of the White Mountains earlier this year, many other high elevation species have been seen in unexpected locations.

I could have gone for a tighter composition, but I wanted to capture a sense of place for this local rarity. I think I've done that by including this garden setting that is so different from the normal habitat where this bird is usually seen.