Sunday, March 11, 2012

The Cedar Waxwing

The Cedar Waxwing
Have you ever had one of those strange days when you realize things might've been better had you just broken the law?  Today was one of them.  But before I begin, I must state that I didn't break the law and I had my first blogger experience!!!  It was all so surreal and bizarre.  Get ready for my tail of the Great Horned Owl that got away, my blogger connection, and of course, the Cedar Waxwing.  This is one of those posts that had to be written down right away.  
This past month, several birders reported that the Cedar Waxwing and Great Blue Heron were en masse along the springs of the Agua Caliente park.  I figured I had a couple days to get my butt over there.  Today(February), I MADE time to do it.  I would hike and do photography shoots all day long if I could, but I had house chores and the garden work to get done.  Get ready.  Once I arrive at the park, I run around trying to locate the Cedar Waxwings.  The Heron was gone, but I was certain the Waxwings were hiding somewhere near.  Several birders were in the area.  Most were clueless that they were in the park.....except one.
Like a Wisconsonite to a bottle of beer, the Cedar Waxwings were enjoying the fruit from the palms along the springs.  But because there was a breeze and A LOT of people running around with kids and dogs, it made for difficult spotting.  But I noticed a woman doing one of those stances that I take when I spot something serious off in the distance.  As I neared the area, I noticed a lot of bird action going on.  And it was here that I would have my first blogger encounter. What an unexpected surprise! There were a lot of firsts on this particular trip.  Meeting another blogger.  Listening to the local wire to track down birds.  And actually recognizing a bird call. More on that later. 
I met Margarethe from Arizona: Beetles, Bugs, Birds and More.  Blogger friends, be warned, I really do read your work.  Margarethe didn't really know me at all but I knew her work from her impressive research on birding, insects, and wildflower hunting.  There are some extremely post specific topics to the Sonoran desert that really had helped me out over the past several months locating and identifying birds and locations (which included the Whitewater Draw).  We had a really nice meet and I hope she wasn't creeped out by my crazy ability to remember things.  I have a photographic memory and if I see pics with writing, I remember them.  Put music with it and the info is nailed into my brain for life.  Anyhow, I really enjoyed the experience and it was nice to meet someone who I respect in the blogosphere. I got the impression she was short on time as I was.  Chores and work to be done around the home.  There was a mountain of laundry to get done.
I'm not afraid to dig around off the trails for the smaller birds.  If I hear a snap, crackle, or pop, I'm there.  Today was one of those days that I thought I had to get off the trails with the high human traffic volume in the main areas around the park.  The results proved worthwhile as I spotted several Phainopeplas, Western Bluebirds, Cactus Wrens, and lots of little birds:)
So what about the breaking the law bit?:)  Well as I was leaving, I heard the unmistakeable sound of an irritated monkey from a thick area of vegetation.  Now in Tucson, we unfortuneatly do not have any monkeys, but I remember this sound from childhood.  I could have kicked myself for not doing this, but I was afraid.  You all know how I'm on a hunt for the Great Horned Owl.  Well today there was one on the opposite side of a brick fence hidden in a grove of citrus trees.  I stood by the brick wall eating the person's billion kumquats(Fukushu variety)overhanging the wall listening.  It was only once and it was definitely a hiss because some bird ticked it off.  My gut didn't lie and I have regret.  Big regret for not jumping that wall. Be aware Tucsonans that there is a crazy man somewhere in our birding areas that has a gun and recently, he stopped a car with two birders who were on the road.  They drove off and he shot his gun into the air.    But I'm a law abiding citizen(and don't want to die). It was a Great Horned Owl!  The silver lining?  That I could recognize one of the sounds that a Great Horned Owl makes.  Next time.  Next time.
Now for today's feature.  The Cedar Waxwing.  This bird has really unique features and I'm a big fan of the mask around the eyes.  One source writes, "A treat to find in your binocular viewfield, the Cedar Waxwing is a silky, shiny collection of brown, gray, and lemon-yellow, accented with a subdued crest, rakish black mask, and brilliant-red wax droplets on the wing feathers. In fall these birds gather by the hundreds to eat berries, filling the air with their high, thin, whistles. In summer you’re as likely to find them flitting about over rivers in pursuit of flying insects, where they show off dazzling aeronautics for a forest bird."  Well here in Tucson, they are winter birds.  It's too hot to see them in the city.  But if you notice on today's photo shoot, I have several pictures of these birds in flight.  They're really fun to watch fly from tree to tree.            
"The name "waxwing" comes from the waxy red secretions found on the tips of the secondaries of some birds. The exact function of these tips is not known, but they may help attract mates. Cedar Waxwings with orange instead of yellow tail tips began appearing in the northeastern U.S. and southeastern Canada in the 1960s. The orange color is the result of a red pigment picked up from the berries of an introduced species of honeysuckle. If a waxwing eats enough of the berries while it is growing a tail feather, the tip of the feather will be orange.

The Cedar Waxwing is one of the few North American birds that specializes in eating fruit. It can survive on fruit alone for several months. Brown-headed Cowbirds that are raised in Cedar Waxwing nests typically don’t survive, in part because the cowbird chicks can’t develop on such a high-fruit diet.Because they eat so much fruit, Cedar Waxwings occasionally become intoxicated or even die when they run across overripe berries that have started to ferment and produce alcohol." Source
And just to add to the strangeness of this post:)  The group is Gotye and his voice is similiar to Stings...well at least it is to me. While the video might be bizarre, I like the vibe. My favorite line, "You can be addicted to a certain kind of sadness."This has become my favorite tune on my road trips this week.  I was listening to XM radio on a birding mission when this song came on and was hooked. What's your road tripping music?  It was an exhilarating day full of action in my garden and on the road. Next week Sunday on March 18th, I'll be at the Butterfly Magic at 9:30 until noon at the Tucson Botanical  Gardens.  Come and join in on the fun. I'd love to meet you all.  Plus the butterflies are truly amazing. More tomorrow....

15 comments:

  1. I lived in North Carolina and once saw a flock of Waxwings eating fermented berries from a tree and they were all drunk as Lords. Having come from Minnesota, this was something brand new to me and most surprising. The birds staggered around and a man picked one up, the bird tried to peck him but could barely manage that.

    Jo, Stella and Zkhat

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  2. It sounds as if you had the time of your life! Amazing that you should have bumped into 2 other bloggers and connected! Brilliant story! As for the birds, i am sure you'll have some other opportunity. Wishing you good Sunday! DeeBee :)

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  3. Love these bandit birds with their splotch of red and yellow on the wing. Yes, they are known to devour berries until they're drunk. We get a small flock through here every spring and they can strip every last berry from a bush 20 feet long by 6 feet high by 10 feet tall in a day and a half.

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  4. There was once a long stretch of Eleagnus pungens planted between opposing lanes of the local interstate. The waxwings would visit it in droves enjoying the fermented fruit. They would leave the shrubs drunk and many were unable to avoid the traffic and would die. The carnage was a shocking annual event, but eventually and thankfully VDOT removed the hedge.

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  5. Meeting a fellow blogger purely by chance...how fun! I have always loved the Cedar Waxwings. They will visit my feeders at time.

    I enjoyed the video! The group is new to me and quite enjoyable.

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  6. They are cracking birds those Waxwings Chris, and their call is wonderful!

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  7. What an amazing sight this must have been. I would have been freaking out. I love these birds. I don't get to see them up here in the Phoenix area. I especially like the second photo. The angle of the mask is great.

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  8. What a neat story! Cedar Waxwings are so pretty!

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  9. I'd like to join the waxwings in a bit of drunkenness. :) You got some great shots. Glad you didn't trespass!

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  10. I love the Cedar Waxwing, they are so much like ours, the Bohemian Waxwing, they are fascinating. And I am taken by the band Gotye, it's pleasurable.

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  11. What a great adventure Chris and wonderful to meet a fellow blogger. Love the cedar waxwings - very similar (as you have already said in a comment on my blog) to our waxwings - gorgeous birds (probably my favourite). Had to laugh at your wish to trespass - I have been very tempted myself in the past!

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  12. It's so neat that you got the chance to meet with a fellow blogger. Trespassing is always tempting, but I too resist. The Waxwings are wonderful, one of my favorite birds :)

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  13. Love your waxwings, great shots! It sounds like an wonderful day birding and meeting a fellow blogger. I hope you have a great day and Happy Birding.

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  14. What a wild and wonderful tale. You are such a rebel, you know. Eating someone's kumquats!

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  15. wow, you've got some really cool waxwing shots there!! i LOVE the look of these birds...but i've never seen one in person! abbout a week or so ago, i found some feathers out front. had never seen these kind of feather...with a weird red waxy tip and BRIGHT yellow...i ran inside and looked them up! feathers from a waxwing!! they actually migrate down here, but i've never seen one!! THAT poor waxwing obviously never made it out of florida...poor thing! :(

    sounds like you had a grand adventure!! the ONLY kind of adventures to have!

    (OH! and the video...his voice also reminds me a little of the guy who sings in the Cure.)

    have a nice week.:)

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