Cedarbirds

All of us, I’m sure, have a secret list of common birds that somehow matter more to us than their abundance can justify. For me, Cedar Waxwing has always been one of those species: it warms the heart to remember their springtime arrival in the frontyard crabapples, and many a dismal February day has been cheered by their elegance.

As I pulled into the garage after a trip to the post office this noon, a shadow passed over. I leapt out of the car to find a flock of 20 Cedar Waxwings passing overhead, uttering their soft lisping hisses as they headed south in typically contrarian fashion.

(This one was in southeast Nebraska last week.)