I hadn’t smoked a cigar since way back before Christmas. It’s been too cold, too wet or too snowy to go outside for a few puffs. Attempting to smoke one inside would be a death wish. My wife Nancy doesn’t even like it when I have unlit stogies in the house. So early this week on a balmy, overcast afternoon, I went out in the backyard and lit one up.
Almost always when I’m outside and very still, like when I’m smoking a cigar, I will see something interesting or entertaining from my bird friends. Sure enough, about an hour before dusk, I saw a small flock of birds fly in and land on a limb straight overhead. There wasn’t a lot of light, but I knew these weren’t among my normal bird visitors. I could see a small top knot and they weren’t titmice. They were cedar waxwings. They jockeyed for position on the limbs, then flew to a holly bush along the side of the house. After a minute or so, they left. Apparently, there were no berries remaining on the holly and they were off to check out other food sources.,
I have seen cedar waxwings in my yard on several occasions, usually they land on the highest limbs, rest for a spell, then take off. I had never seen them trying to feed before, and I was reminded that I need to plant more bird-friendly trees and bushes in my yard – things like dogwoods, serviceberry, cedar, juniper, hawthorn or winterberry.
In the winter, waxwings survive solely on fruits. In fact, because they eat so much fruit, Cedar Waxwings occasionally become intoxicated when they run across overripe berries that have started to ferment and produce alcohol.
Cedar waxwings are beautiful creatures. They are sleek, grayish birds with a pointed crest, light yellow belly and a bandit-like black mask. The tip of the tail is bright yellow and the tips of their wings look as though they had been dipped in red wax – therefore their names.
The birds are often seen before they are seen, with high-pitched calls. They love berry trees and bushes and are found high in evergreens, or along rivers and over ponds.
Seeing the small flock of visitors was the highlight of my week. Hopefully, next time they pass through, there will be berries on the holly bush or other plantings where they can stay for a while and feed.