Visitors 88
Modified 18-Feb-23
Created 11-Nov-22
41 photos
It's that time of year again -- Cedar Waxwings and Robins pass through to feast on our ripe berries. Here is a Museum* of Cedar Waxwings, binging on ripe berries in our Pacific Madrone trees along Valley Oak in Portola Valley Ranch. This may look easy, but some of the birds had a hard time picking a berry. They persevered.
At least one American Robin was in the crowd, also grabbing berries. When I passed the tree six days later, I saw no Cedar Waxwings, only robins.
Toyon berries seem to be ripe as well -- but I have not yet seen any birds feeding in Toyon. Soon, I guess.
I have appended some photos from my archives: a Cedar Waxwing, in a Toyon at Stanford's Center for the Advanced Study of Behavioral Sciences, in 2004. Nice toss!
* "Museum of Cedar Waxwings" is their unique collective noun, more individualized than "flock". Like a Covey of Quail, a Murder of Crows, a Rafter of Turkeys. Several years ago, I was treated to a large Gift of Robins -- several thousand strong -- at Jasper Ridge. I have not seen many yet this year.
Is there a reverse trophic cascade at work here? A few days ago I saw a Merlin at Jasper Ridge, quite intent on something nearby -- possible prey? Merlins hunt songbirds. Could it be: ripe berries -> Cedar Waxwings and American Robins -> Merlin?
