When Waxwings Attack

I Promise Nobody Was Hurt Writing This

Just last week, my wife and I were talking about birds we’d seen and haven’t seen in our backyard this winter.  Somehow, the conversation turned to one of my favorite little late winter visitors, Cedar Waxwings.

We normally don’t see them except in between flock movements from one part of the country to another.  The Stokes guide I have says they stay year round not too far from us in Tennessee but I never see them during the summer.  I believe it’s because the bushes and trees near us only have berries they want at the times we see them.

Be Careful What You Wish For

I know you’ll think I’m making this up for effect but I swear it’s true.  My wife and I had our talk on Saturday night and at 7 AM Sunday morning, I started hearing some new high-pitched sounds in the front yard.  I got out the binocs and sure enough they were Waxwings.  Not a few but hundreds of them.  They were all over our neighbor’s tree devouring the berries on it.  I apologize but I have no idea what kind of tree it is.

They were taking turns flying from a high nearby roost and landing on the tree for their meal.  They were chattering and fussing with each other and it was hilarious watching them.  We tried to get some pictures but a bunch of storm clouds moved in and the lighting was awful.

Don’t Come Between A Waxwing And Berries

My wife tried to get close enough to them to get a better shot and got to witness one of the coolest things about Waxwings.  They will flock together to go feeding even during nesting season.  When they are in these flocks, they are extremely brave.  My wife got to walk up to within a couple of feet of a bunch of them and they barely paid her any mind.  She told me that one of them actually stopped and gave her the “Are you lookin’ at me?” stare.  Not wanting to disrupt this wonderful display, we both went back into the house and watched from our front door.

We had some severe weather that morning and could see the flock in my backyard way up in a tree holding on for their dear lives.  Finally, I think they figured out they would be safer roosting in one of the nearby pine trees and that’s where they rode out the storm from.  When the weather calmed, they were back at that tree again.

The flock continued feeding until late afternoon.  When we went outside the next day, the tree had been picked clean and nothing but small pits remained of their feast.

We both feel blessed to have been able to watch such a wonderful display.

OK. I admit it.  I used the sensational headline to grab your attention.  I hope you had as much fun with it as I did.

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