Date: 10-20
Location: West of Putnam Center
Time: 1458-1525
Weather: 58˚F
Cedar waxwings glided swift as ninjas from tree to tree on each
of the four sequoias along the south side of Smith's Auditorium. They flew to the adjacent birch tree and then a few decided to perch onto the Portuguese laurel tree. I followed their path to find that a large quantity of round, dark blue-purple berries had fallen onto the bark chip. The birds began circling above campus, mating perhaps. Some performed aerials above the water and looped back to the tree they originally perched on. They visited the stream to take a quick drink or bath along the rock-lined shore. The messengers from the laurel returned to the flock causing a sudden large mass of birds to
fill the air. They swarmed over the laurel tree, picked and swallowed the berries. The fruit must have ripened due to the cold air, but no birds seem intoxicated so far. The berries easily dropped on the ground due to carelessness or poor grip by the birds, who yanked the berries free; the force must have caused them to drop it. The birds then left a few remaining on the tree; after 10 minutes passed by, they came back. Smart; they left the tree to feed because other birds in the flock needed space to land and eat. The sense of community in the flock is as strong as the community in this neighborhood.
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