In January the red berry bushes around our house are loaded with cedar waxwings, blue birds and robins. I can often be seen hanging out our second story bedroom window taking photos of them. I have tried going outside, but this seems to scare them off.

They all appear in huge flocks, sitting in the trees around the bushes, waiting for their turn at the berries. The robins take the lead. They are bigger than the wax wings and blue birds which give them an advantage. The wax wings are special because this is the only time of year that we see them. There perky crest sets off their gray and yellow feathers. They have just a touch of red on their wings. They look like Zorro with their black masks. The male blue bird is a brilliant blue with a bright orange breast. The female is more subdued in color.

I am not a scientific bird watcher as you can tell by my descriptions. In fact I am just now starting to learn the names of some of our bird friends. In previous years I have distinguished them with names like gray boy, upside down, big boy, hummy and my favorite Matilda. Matilda was a little bird that built a nest every year for at least 15 years on the wreath attached to our front door. Some seasons she would have two or three broods of chicks.

The robins, blue birds and waxwings fly into the red berry bushes in groups of five to ten. They work picking and eating berries for a few minutes and then they fly and the next group descends. They can strip a large bush of it’s berries in a couple of days. They do love those berries. I have heard stories about waxwings becoming intoxicated by gorging themselves on fermented berries. I sure hope they have a designated pilot.