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....