Cedar waxwings https://www.thebatavian.com/ en https://www.thebatavian.com/themes/barrio_batavian/images/thebatavian_logo.png Cedar waxwings https://www.thebatavian.com/ Local Matters © 2008-2023 The Batavian. All Rights Reserved. Thu, 02 May 2024 00:14:34 -0400 https://www.thebatavian.com/themes/barrio_batavian/images/thebatavian_logo.png Fri, 14 Sep 2012 09:03:00 -0400 Cedar waxwings enjoy the wild fruits of late summer https://www.thebatavian.com/jimnigro/cedar-waxwings-enjoy-wild-fruits-late-summer/33843

This small cluster of cedar waxwings was part of a larger flock that recently descended on a nearby meadow. Whether they came to feast on wild grapes or poke berries, I couldn't say, but they were present in large numbers. And that is how they travel, arriving by the hundreds to feast on ripe berries. 

A closeup of the above photo reveals one of the birds preening below its left wing.

A lone waxwing on one of the uppermost branches of the tree.

And as suddenly as the cedar waxwings appear, they will leave the same way, quickly vacating an area once they've exhausted the food supply. The speciman above momentarily enjoys the sun...

before deciding to preen its feathers.

One late summer/early autumn many years ago, I was paddling on the Tonawanda when I witnessed firsthand the massive flock movements of foraging cedar waxwings. I was a quarter mile upstream from our home in an area where ancient black willows line both banks, their uppermost branches forming a canopy over the creek. Wild grape vines had scaled many of those trees, making their way into the branches high above the water.

On that quiet and sunny day I remember hearing a rustling noise, much like a snake makes as it crawls through dry leaves. Anyway, looking around and not seeing anything, I finally looked up. There must have been dozens, if not hundreds of cedar waxwings gorging themselves on the wild grapes. I found it to be quite an outdoor moment and obviously I've not forgotten it...I doubt I ever will.

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https://www.thebatavian.com/jimnigro/cedar-waxwings-enjoy-wild-fruits-late-summer/33843#comments https://www.thebatavian.com/jimnigro/cedar-waxwings-enjoy-wild-fruits-late-summer/33843 Sep 14, 2012, 9:03am Cedar waxwings Cedar waxwings enjoy the wild fruits of late summer jimnigro <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> This small cluster of cedar waxwings was part of a larger flock that recently descended on a nearby meadow. Whether they came to feast on wild grapes or poke berries, I couldn't say, but they were present in large numbers. And that is how they travel, arriving by the hundreds</p>