Waxwing Invasion!

11 years ago

Bohemian Waxwing in the neighbourhood cleaning up on berries. My wife took these yesterday, last year, around the same time they were here,.. within two days.

With this new Format,...taking 1/3 of page for advertising, allowing only small size pictures makes it hard to get a good visual on this.
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Resting on our spruce tree.

Neighbours yard..

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Every tree, from left to right is loaded with birds.
Swooping down on this Mountain Ash, [middle].

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Comments (12)

shillanorth Z4 AB
11 years ago
Such beautiful birds. I really enjoy watching and listening to them. Isn`t it funny how they appeared so close to last year`s date. Maybe you are on their permanent long term itinerary!
kendra2003
11 years ago
Wow. That is awesome. I sure wish I could get a Waxwing invasion.
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MM, What a wonderful experience! As you have seen, the story that birds will abandon babies and nests if they smell humans is an old wive's tale. I have been fortunate to have bluebirds nest in my yard, and they will even tolerate a nest change when it has been extremely necessary. Some species are more wary than others, but most have a very poor sense of smell. I have found most of the songbirds that actually take care of their young (other than cowbirds) are actually very loyal to them. They will risk their own safety (to a point) to insure the babies' survival. Nature does bless them with enough sense to preserve their own life in extreme threats (like wasps) however. After all, baby songbirds have a 1 in 2 chance of making through the first year. It wouldn't make sense for the breeding pair to throw all caution to the wind and give up their own lives. They can always go on and raise another brood afterall.
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Yes she did! It seems they stick around for several weeks/month until flock disperses for breeding,.. still lots of Crab Apples, Mountain Ash, High bush Cranberry, Chokecherries, Russian Olive etc. around, they might even pick off new buds on trees. Only had ones a nest in the backyard around 25 years ago in a little spruce trees about 4 foot up, now that tree is HUGE. Have never seen the Cedars here in winter, they soon will be returning and I will see usually several nest out on the hobby farm, [above pictures] planted several hundred spruce trees from seeds. Hardly ever see Bohemian nest,..I'll have to ask them where they go.
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Thank you all! It's a canon powershot SX40 HS, has a amazing reach of 800mm. Also good for macro shots and general photography. She got it for Christmas, I.M.O. best camera for the money. Clair...You're right on with the wording on the second picture! It's also my favored. Yes, last year she had a blast too. Have a couple more.. Taking a moonshot with this camera,......expensive lens would be needed for a SLR Camera Macro General..
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Cedar Waxwings are timing with their nestlings on the oncoming of their favored berries to feed their young, not sure what that would be in your area, find out and then go with this plant. Cedars just about eating anything when it comes to berries, just make sure this fruit is ripening at the time of hatchlings. Here it's the native Saskatoon's, Cedar's should just about now build their nest here. As for Winter food, they like chokecherries, crab apples and some mountain ash.
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claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
11 years ago
There's just a little feeling of Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds' here. I'll bet you're glad you're not a Mountain Ash when you go outside!

Such elegant birds but I remember how disreputable they looked last year squabbling in a puddle.

Claire
tmff
11 years ago
Wow! Would love to catch a glimpse of that in person. Thanks for sharing.
Konrad___far_north
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you all!
I'm glad you remembered, Clair.
It was a warm day, above freezing but the sun wasn't out to make puddles,..then they just eat snow.
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
11 years ago
I found last year's Bohemian Waxwing post. Birds trash-talking in puddles.

Claire
tmff
11 years ago
LOL @ those unruly waxwings! I guess beauty is only feather-deep. :-)
Konrad___far_north
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks Claire for the link!

>>There's just a little feeling of Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds' Yeah,..there was another invasion in Kentucky city, Hopkinsville,... blackbirds and European starlings,...I take the waxwings any day.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bird invasion brings real-life horror to Kentucky city
catherinet
11 years ago
How cool Konrad! Love those pictures.
tmff
11 years ago
Fermented berries....lol

Here is a link that might be useful: Drunk Waxwing Info
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
11 years ago
Found the 2011 Waxwing Invasion post, taken with your wife's older camera (still a fine camera, that's the one I have).

Claire
joan754
11 years ago
I had the waxwing invasion on March 1 this year. Last year it was March 3. They sure are a beautiful bird.

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Waxwing Invasion!

Comments (12)

shillanorth Z4 AB

kendra2003

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claireplymouth z6b coastal MA

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Waxwing Invasion!

Comments (12)

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Konrad___far_northOriginal Author

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