I'm told by raptor bird count crews that the Gray Jay is a welcome bird at count sites. This isn't for the entertainment value of their comedic antics as they come within arms length to check out your gear for evidence you may be a source of food or when they make high speed sorties close to your unattended rucksack to get a closer look. No, their value is in their ability to spot raptors at a distance that the experienced bird counters may miss. The Gray Jay will alert when it sees a raptor and warn the rest of its crew of the potential threat and trespasser. The count crews recognizes this call and they know they should be diligently scanning the sky for raptors at that moment. I personally have not heard this alert but find the Gray Jay entertaining to watch. They seem to do well scavenging off of humans as they will usually greet you at some point if you enter their territory. I've had them land on my hat, steal scrambled eggs right off my plate at camp and eat out of my hand. They are also punctual; visiting camp around the same time, morning and evening. I watch for them and welcome them even if it's just for a quick glance around my camp to determine I left no food unsecured. Bonney Butte, Oregon USA
Here's a close-up of Crazy Horse that may help to put my last wide angle shot into perspective. Crazy Horse's face is 87' (27m) tall. That's 45% taller than the 60'(18m) faces of Mt Rushmore. The project was started in 1948 with the face being completed from 1982- 1998. In comparison, Mt Rushmore took 14 years to complete (with a work force of 400) and it is generally thought the Great Pyramid of Egypt was completed in 20 years. Given that the finished sculpture is to be 641' (195m) wide by 563' (172m) tall, I'm pretty certain, I won't get to see it complete in my lifetime and question if anyone alive today will see it completed. Black Hills, South Dakota USA
By private commission by Henry Standing Bear, a Lakota elder, the Crazy Horse Memorial has been a work in progress since 1948. The monument plan calls for the finished sculpture to be 641' (195m) wide by 563' (172m) tall which will make it the largest sculpture in the world. Crazy Horse, a Oglala Sioux Indian chief, warrior and military leader, is probably most well known teaming up with Sitting Bull for the Battle of Little Bighorn (Custer's Last Stand) in 1876. Crazy Horse was able to wipe out Custer and much of his Custer's 7th Calvary leading the natives to their greatest victory. Determined to destroy or tame the Indians, the US Army intensified their efforts and within 5 years had confined or killed the majority of the Sioux. Crazy Horse was confined and killed in 1877 after leaving the reservation without permission. Black Hills, South Dakota, USA
