harolds1@ihlpa.ATT.COM (Schessler) (08/26/88)
Something very strange happened the other day! I just happened to be waiting for someone standing on a lawn at my office building. I happened to spot a Cedar Waxwing perched in a tree 20 feet away. I took a few steps at right angles to the path to the tree. She (or he) flew from the tree to within a few feet of me - landing on the grass and then took off again back to the tree. I thought this behavior rather strange (and being worried that some harm was done to her by the lawn chemicals used that morning) I walked towards the tree very slowly. I was able to get within 5 feet of the tree and when I did she flew to my feet - I couldn't believe it - right to my feet! Thinking she might perch on my finger - I take care of 5 free roaming house birds so I feel I understand birds pretty well - I bent down slowly. She took off to another tree leaving me with a mystery. Does anyone understand her behavior? I don't believe they nest on the ground which might mean that she was diverting me from a nest.
mjm@oliven.olivetti.com (Michael Mammoser) (08/27/88)
In article <9139@ihlpa.ATT.COM>, harolds1@ihlpa.ATT.COM (Schessler) writes: > > Something very strange happened the other day! > > I just happened to be waiting for someone > standing on a lawn at my office building. > I happened to spot a Cedar Waxwing perched in a tree 20 feet away. > I took a few steps at right angles to the path to the tree. > She (or he) flew from the tree to within a few feet of > me - landing on the grass and then took off again back to the tree. > > I thought this behavior rather strange > (and being worried that some harm was done to her by > the lawn chemicals used that morning) I walked towards > the tree very slowly. I was able to get within 5 feet of the tree and when I > did she flew to my feet - I couldn't believe it - right to > my feet! Thinking she might perch on my finger > - I take care of 5 free roaming house birds so I feel I understand birds pretty well - > I bent down slowly. She took off to another tree leaving me with a mystery. > > Does anyone understand her behavior? I don't believe they nest on the ground > which might mean that she was diverting me from a nest. Perhaps your movement on the lawn was stirring up insects that the bird was flying down to feed on. I don't know if this behavior is typical for waxwings, but there are birds that feed in this manner; most notably, the Cattle Egret. It follows cattle or farm machinery around and feeds off of the insects that are stirred up. Waxwings don't nest on the ground or, usually, in urban areas. Mike
gpasq@picuxa.UUCP (Greg Pasquariello X1190) (08/29/88)
In article <9139@ihlpa.ATT.COM> harolds1@ihlpa.ATT.COM (Schessler) writes: > >Something very strange happened the other day! [ Strange waxwing behavior deleted.] Believe it or not, Cedar waxwings (and some other species) that feed on fruits (i.e cherries etc) will often become drunk from the fermenting berries! Possibly, the waxwing was inebriated! At my parents house, robins would occaisionally get drunk and do all kinds of strange things. One once flew in small circles on the ground for 2 or 3 minutes. -- ========================================================================= Greg Pasquariello AT&T Product Integration Center att!picuxa!gpasq 299 Jefferson Rd, Parsippany, NJ 07054 =========================================================================
matt@marge.math.binghamton.edu (matt brin) (08/30/88)
Cedar waxwings seem to have less fear of humans than many other common species. Another "tame" common species is the chickadee. I can't recall seeing waxwings spending much time on the ground, but the fact that one got that close to you doesn't surprise me at all. matt brin / math. dept / SUNY / Binghamton, NY 13901 matt@marge.math.binghamton.edu INTERNET fac119@bingvaxb.bitnet BITNET fac119@suny-bing.csnet CSNET