Canon City birding11-26-05

Ah, the last of the warm, nice days--a big storm comes tonight with a big dip in temps from 60's to highs only in the 30's & low 40's. However, storms are associated with bird movement so nasty winter weather often brings interesting birds.

Earlier this week I heard what sounded like waxwings but didn't locate them until the end of the week. They were a small flock of Cedar Waxwings, feasting on leftover fruit in several apple trees. Their high pitched whistle-like call is most distinctive and I usually find them by hearing them first as in this circumstance. This species specializes in sugary fruits and its winter diet is almost exclusively fruit. Cedar Waxwings are a species that is increasing its population and distribution. This is attributed by The Birds of North America Online to several possible factors including the creation of more edge habitat which is conducive to fruit trees and shrubs.

When I see them in my yard, they are usuallly in my crabapple trees. But I have shrubs whose fruit Cedar Waxwings are known to eat including pyracantha (Firethorn), juniper berries and wild raspberries (planted by birds who had raspberrie seeds in their droppings).

SeEtta