Clark’s Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana)
Ink and gouache on hot press watercolor paper
Just finished, better late than never I reckon. The original intent was to make some kind of play on the Christmas Nutcracker. And I know black and white is not very festive, but that’s what this wanted to be. Now for addressing envelopes and writing little notes…
The nutcrackers are still out in the Swauk eating ponderosa pine seeds. Every day has a little more daylight.
In The Rainshadow 
**smiling** Of course that’s what this wanted to be… Clark’s Nutcrackers ARE black and white… and I’ll bet busy of habit. Having never seen this bird that is so familiar and often mentioned in your works sent me scuttling for my favorite bird references, to learn that these guys have elastic pouches beneath thier tongues for storing seeds! Chipmunks of bird world! How cool IS that?! Thanks, Deb.
I too have these moths, in unusual abundance this year. They seem to be related to the Gypsy moths, common on the east coast. They do not have digestive systems in their adult (moth) state and can only ingest water. The live from 2 to 4 weeks. That is all I know so far. Am trying to learn more about them.