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cedar waxwing

17 years ago

This afternoon I saw 3 birds in some trees beside my laneway. They looked like cardinals but they weren't cardinals, just shaped like them. They were sort of an olive/gold color (if that makes sense) and had the black stripes over their eyes. They looked like they were wearing sunglasses..lol. They left and came back a little later to the same trees. Then they took off a second time and it was more than 3...more like 5-6 of them. I remembered seeing this bird in the reference book that I have, so I remembered the name. Got a closer look with my binoculars and they did have the yellow tipped tail. I was so excited to see them as I've never seen one before, or paid attention. They are beautiful birds!!! Will they feed at bird feeders?

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Comments (3)

rachel_frome_ky
17 years ago
I wish..but they'll be glad to strip your holly bushes! Congratulations on your sighting!

These little guys tend to strike quickly, clean out a tree, to the consternation of the resident Mockingbird, then leave.
donnas_gw
Original Author
17 years ago
guess I'm lucky I don't have any trees with berries. Whatever they are eating is on my neighbor's property that meets our driveway. I know there are lilac bushes and a honeysuckle shrub there but don't think they have berries on them.

I didn't know anything about these birds but noticing them the first time, I was excited to see them and know what they were from my reference book. I've fed hummers for several years now but I'm kinda new to other birds LOL.
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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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OH, I see what you mean. This must be more of a tech thing, using the camera to it's limits? They want to see every tip of every feather and give most of the credit to the camera? I just think that pic is a work of art, I think the "soft edges" enhances the beauty of the birds and the flowers. May I print it and hang it? I could send you a few very bad pictures of my little pond, never seem to be able to get the brids that love it so much to pose for me. Wax wings, Indigos, Tanagers, Orioles, Towhees, Cardinals, Gold Finches, Grosbeaks, Dees, Robins, all make a very colorful splash along with all the flowers blooming around it and the goldies IN it..
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I just read an article that said Cedar Waxwings love wool and will make a complete nest out of wool. That is exactly what my pair have been doing. I had put the wool out thinking birds will line their nests with it, but in the case of waxwings, they actually construct their nests out of the wool. That is probably why they are ignoring the dog hair. It will be interesting to take a picture of the nest once they are done with it (don't want to disturb them) and see how it is constructed. The wool I offered probably is what made them to decide to nest in my yard as I have never had them nest before. What a stroke of luck that I had decided to offer wool. I had an old quilt that was filled with wool that was worn out so I thought I would use the wool. Good thing I did.
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scoutsadie
17 years ago
Isn't it exciting to see new birds? My mom, dad, sister and in-laws have recently gotten into it (thanks to my influence - hee) and call me, all excited about seeing a new species. I totally get it! I have been doing this for a few years now and still get all happy when I "meet" someone new.

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