Omelko A.M., Omelko M.M.
Amurian zoological journal 2017; 9(2): 102-111
We have investigated wintering of nutcrackers ( Nucifraga caryocatactes L.) in area with planted Korean pine ( Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc.) trees in Primorye. Observations of the birds’ behavior during creating of nuts storages and searching them in winter was performed. Data on the caches placement, their number, the number of nuts in cache were obtained. The results showed that most caches were created at a distance of 450-470 meters from the fruiting pines, mainly under the conifer trees. The number of nuts in single cache ranging from 1 to 8 and caches with 2 nuts were predominant (63.5 %). Caches with a larger number of nuts (up to 7-8) nutcrackers used under severe winter conditions, or at the end of winter. In one day, a nutcracker extract about 32 nuts from caches. The depth of snow cover does not hinder the search for nuts, but significant part of the caches was created under the canopy of the coniferous trees, where it was the least deep. About 25 % of the stock birds are not found.
