We had an unexpected Cedar Waxwing visit over the Thanksgiving holidays. We heard a distinct “thump” at the dining room window, and when my son-in-law, Brent, went out to investigate, he found a small, stunned cedar waxwing under concussion protocol. He held the small fellow in his hand for several minutes until it regained its senses and then flew up to the treetops to connect with his flock members.
I feared the flock may have flown away and he wouldn’t be able to reconnect, but they hung around.
I usually see Cedar Waxwings several times a year as they flit from place to place looking for berries. We used to have a huge cedar tree connecting with our neighbor, but it was on their side and they chopped it down. Cedar waxwings love cedar berries. I have a few holly bushes in my yard, but not much else to offer the pretty things, so they just pass through.
Sometimes birds see their reflections and think it’s another bird to chase away. Cardinals bump into our windows often. Other times, I guess birds see the window and it’s reflection as a good place to fly. We have several of those reflective decals on our windowpanes where we have had past bird collisions to deter the thump-ings. I guess we need another one for the dining room window. I hope my neglect of this task won’t prevent the little flock from paying another visit.
