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Winter Birdwatching
Illustrious Cedar Waxwings
The Cedar Waxwing is one of the most beautiful winter birds in our area.
It is a gorgeous silky brown, with a lovely crest and black mask. It has a conspicuous yellow tip on the tail. Their feathers are always smooth and they look as though they are “waxed” and polished regularly.
The most curious feature of this bird is its droplets of red wax on its inner- wing feathers. No one really knows what these wax droplets are for. However, some authorities believe it is a mating signal to other Cedar Waxwings. Young birds do not have any wax droplets. They accumulate more of these droplets as they get older. They can have anywhere from no droplets, up to eight red wax droplets on each wing. Mated pairs usually have a similar number of droplets and are of similar ages. They can live up to seven years.
Cedar Waxwings typically travel in very large flocks, often hundreds together. They are usually detected first by their sound – a very thin, high-pitched, buzzy whistle. If you hear this sound, look up. You will often be treated to a tight, whirling flock of small birds. Or they might be sitting inconspicuously
Staying Healthy during the Holiday Season
For many people the holidays are a cheery and fun time of year; for others it can also be busy, demanding, overwhelming, and stressful. Here are some tips for staying healthy during the holidays:
1. Make time for your exercise. Continuing to make time for exercise reduces stress and burns off the extra calories of holiday treats. If you can’t find a 30-minute chunk of time to exercise, break it into three 10-minute sessions spread throughout the day.
2. Think before you eat. The holidays are stuffed with sweets and rich food, and there is no doubt that ‘tis the season for eating. Try not to overindulge. Some tips include:
• Don’t starve yourself waiting for the “big meal.” Eat a healthy breakfast and snack on some yoghurt, fruit, or other healthy foods during the day.
• Don’t drink extra calories. Limit alcohol, which is high in calories. Be careful of the calories and sugar in fruit punch, juice, and eggnog. If you cannot resist, have one glass, then follow with healthier choices such as sparkling water with a lime or lemon or mix a small portion of fruit juice in a glass of sparking water.
• Don’t deprive yourself. Completely avoiding the scrumptious dessert can make you feel deprived of the pleasure and are more likely to overeat another time. Instead, limit yourself to a small serving.
• Don’t graze multiple times through the hors d’oeuvres. Instead, get a small plate and select your favorites. Eat the healthy choices first such as carrots, celery, and other fresh vegetables available.
• Don’t be hard on yourself. A single day of overeating won’t make or break your long term road to maintaining your health. Just return to your usual eating plan the next day and leave your guilt behind.
3. Maintain balance. Stress is often worse when we are out of balance. Out of balance may be from too many commitments, a lack of sleep, financial pressure, worry, recent losses, or isolation. If you are feeling stressed, take 10 minutes to just sit and reflect. Don’t forget to breathe and visualize a peaceful scene. Just a short switch in energy will bring you back to balance.
4. Socialize with people you enjoy. Try to connect with at least one upbeat person every day that can help you feel positive and laugh. Laughter is good medicine.
5. Join or participate in something that has meaning for you. Volunteering to help others can give you a purpose and helps you feel good about yourself. Inquire around to find a “good fit” between your interests and other’s needs you can fulfill.
Your mental, physical, and social well-being comes before other’s demands for the holidays. Make it a priority to spend time with those people who you find fun and naturally encourage you to feel good about yourself. For more information about staying healthy all year long, contact Densie or Vikki at Oakmont Gardens at 707-538-1914 or email us at ogmarketing@mbk.com.
in a nearby tree, having gone totally undetected until their buzzy whistle was heard.
Cedar Waxwings
eat fruits and berries almost exclusively. They will often congregate with American Robins traveling from neighborhood to neighborhood, searching for ripe fruits and berries. They will descend upon a neighborhood when the Privet or Cotoneaster berries are ripe, and only move on after the berries are completely stripped. –They will then find a new neighborhood to descend upon. Other berries eaten by waxwings are cedar, juniper, hawthorn, elderberries, madrone, and mistletoe. They are also very fond of ripe persimmons.
Waxwings cannot digest the seeds of the fruits they eat. The seeds are deposited in their droppings and planted wherever they may wander. And Cedar Waxwings are very nomadic, wandering around the countryside and neighborhoods, always searching for the perfect berry patch. This makes them very important seed- dispersers in our natural environment.
Cedar Waxwings are increasing in number all across North America. This
is likely due to planted ornamental shrubs. As of yet, there are no confirmed breeding records for Cedar Waxwing in Sonoma County. But, this may happen in the future, especially if their numbers continue to increase throughout their range.
If you are not lucky enough to have berry bushes or fruit trees in your yard, you can still attract Cedar Waxwings. Try putting out small pieces of apple or other berries on a table. This might work. Also, Cedar Waxwings are often very thirsty. Birds that eat fruits need more liquid in their diets than insect-eaters. So, a water bath can be very attractive to them. But, be sure to keep the water fresh.
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