Vicky Carder is a Shelbyville native. In 1991 she founded Walden's Puddle Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Nashville. There she served as Executive Director for more than 12 years. The Center is the largest wildlife hospital in Middle Tennessee. She has published in wildlife national and international journals. Now she wants to share her knowledge of native wildlife and some of the experiences she had while working with wildlife.

Cedar Waxwings

Posted Saturday, March 1, 2014, at 11:21 AM

Photo from the National Audubon Society

I've had my share of wonderful birds at my feeder this year. All of the birds you would expect to see - cardinals, finches, titmice, sparrows, and woodpeckers.

I have lived here for three winters now, and never have I seen a cedar waxwing in the neighborhood - until last week.

My neighbor called and cautioned me that if I went outside I shouldn't be alarmed, but there was a huge flock of birds in one of my trees. Of course, I immediately went out to see what was going on!

There it was - not one cedar waxwing, but the whole flock! I estimate between 300-500 birds, and they stripped my holly tree of its berries within a 10 minute period. It was a cheerful sight for a dreary winter day.

Waxwings typically appear in flocks until later in the summer, when they do nest and breed here. They eat berries and insects.

By the way, a few of my favorite birds have been at my feeder - 3-4 male Red-winged Blackbirds. I love the songs they sing.

I need spring to be here!

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I have seen the cedar waxwings before. But only in this context. They come thru in the winter in a huge flock, and strip all the forage bare in minutes. Then they move on, leaving hard times for the resident birds, who would have been eating from that food source all winter.

-- Posted by lazarus on Sat, Mar 1, 2014, at 1:05 PM
Hi, lazarus -

It's kind of a conundrum for me! I love the cedar waxwings, and they are considered a local bird.

But you are right about the hard times. I have a few mockingbirds who aren't going to be too happy about this. (I did see some stray berries left behind.)

-- Posted by wildwoman on Sun, Mar 2, 2014, at 6:18 AM
Do they eat the black berry that comes from our local privet?

They are such a pretty bird, it is hard to get mad at them, but I have never had them in large numbers as you folks have.

-- Posted by stevemills on Sun, Mar 2, 2014, at 9:06 PM
Steve, they do eat berries from privet hedges. The sight of so many birds stripping that tree is something I will never forget.

Forgot to mention that UNFORTUNATELY my car was parked under that tree. It was so embarassing that I stopped on the way to church and hosed it off.

-- Posted by wildwoman on Wed, Mar 5, 2014, at 11:58 AM
They are really good eating.Put about 10 or 12 cleaned breast in a crock pot with mushroom gravy and cook for 4-5 hrs on low.They taste great!

-- Posted by mytaxesaremine on Mon, Mar 17, 2014, at 1:49 PM
AAAAAACCCCKKKKK!

Very funny, mytaxesaremine!

-- Posted by wildwoman on Wed, Mar 19, 2014, at 6:23 AM
They are really good.Taste like a Bald Eagle.

-- Posted by mytaxesaremine on Wed, Mar 19, 2014, at 11:19 AM
Humingbird alert ! Male has been seen near Tim's Ford lake.. My feeders are out and ready ;) My sister had a sighting yesterday at her feeder ! She lives very near Tim's in Moore co.

-- Posted by haybar on Wed, Apr 9, 2014, at 11:56 AM
Three at my feeder today but red hornet keeps dive bombing them.

-- Posted by cherokee2 on Thu, Jun 25, 2015, at 12:52 PM

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