Print
Category: Just Call Me MAM Just Call Me MAM
Published: 24 March 2018 24 March 2018

cedars bluessized

Photo Courtesy of Alison Trombly

I must admit I was a wee bit envious of this photo, for two reasons. One, bird photography is not my forte, although I love to watch birds but catching that perfect photo is not something I've mastered.

And the other reason was that Cedar waxwings are among my favorite birds, and I'm sad that on the other side of town where we live, I've never seen a Cedar waxwing at our birdbath. Bluebirds, yes, but I don't recall a waxwing. I think the reason I love waxwings, is the unexpected spots of color and the unruffled feathers that always look smooth.

My favorite Cedar waxwing story comes from our days in the Houston area before we moved here. We had a tree in the front yard that had tiny red berries on it in the winter. One day, during spring migration, I came in the front door and noticed that several Cedar waxwings were feasting on the berries near the door. That was not unexpected.

However, the next day, only one waxwing was there, and he was absolutely pigging out on the berries. In the warmish weather, the berries had gotten squishy and started to ferment. I walked over to the small tree, within a few feet of the bird. He paid little attention to me, but did lurch to another branch a bit farther away from me. I didn't want to bother the waxwing, so I went inside and looked out the window. I think the bird was quite literally drunk on the berries, because it stayed there for hours, moving unsteadily from branch to branch. The next day it was gone. Do birds have hangovers?

On a more local note, the other day, I was in the kitchen looking out our window, when I saw a big blue bird fly up to the suet feeder and back down to the ground. It didn't try to grab the feeder with its feet, but just kind of stabbed the suet with its beak to grab a bit. I watched as the Steller's Jay, which is also a strikingly beautiful bird, charge up on wing to grab a bit of suet four times, before it flew away. It was never there long enough for me to see if it actually succeeded in getting a bite or two. But the jay was still around this morning. They are infrequent winter visitors to our feeders.

Our plum trees have bloomed and turned to bright tiny green leaves. Will we have fruit this year? The trees waited until March, which was unusual, so unless we have a hard freeze, I'm hoping for a plum crop. Our peach trees has started blooming, but I think half of it is dead, so we may have to plant another. I love my fresh peach jam, cobbler and peaches on my ice cream, when they ripen in the summer.

I hope as the days begin to warm up that you are outdoors enjoying what nature provides.

May your musings bring you beauty!