Seasonal redwing atrocity

Subject: Seasonal redwing atrocity
From: greg stephens
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 09:48 AM

Three days ago we were admiring our holly tree in front of the house, this year a magnicient display of berries. Two days ago I was lying in bed(I'm a musician, lying in bed is my hobby)looking at the trees out of the back, and there were a lot of redwings capering about in the top of a big damson tree right outside our bedroom window(this is in England, by the way. I think American redwings may be a different bird).. So we were speculating what they were up to, they kept flying off and coming back. Thought they might be en route somewhere, and stopped to eat our hawthorn berries.Anyway, this morning I looked out the back, and no sign of any redwings this time. So, after lunch, I went out with the long loppers to cut some nice holly to make a wreath, and guess what? Not a berry left on the tree. The redwings have had every single one. Pretty impressive, eh?
    I'm not a bird watcher: anybody know where the redwings come from, and where they go? They don't live round here, we only see them once in a blue moon, they turn up for a day or two, and then off they go again.
    I don't begrudge them a square meal in the cold weather on their travels, but they might have left me enough for a wreath for my door!And, incidentally, Kerry Mills' Redwing is a great tune.

Subject: RE: Seasonal redwing atrocity
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 09:58 AM

They come over in large flocks every winter, mostly from Scandinavia, and along with Fieldfares, they can strip a large tree in a remarkably short time.
Pretty birds though, members of the thrush family, sharing the family label Turdus. I expect you knew that though :)
Giok

Subject: RE: Seasonal redwing atrocity
From: Mooh
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 09:58 AM

There's a resident of a nursing home where I play who asks repeatedly if we play Redwing. We do, often, and sometimes twice when she forgets that we've already played it. Great tune.

As for the real redwings, better them than vandalism and other destructions of mankind.

As for the Detroit Dred...um, Dead...um, Red Wings, GO LEAFS GO!

Peace and Happy Christmas, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Seasonal redwing atrocity
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 10:02 AM

Redwing

Subject: RE: Seasonal redwing atrocity
From: gnu
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 10:06 AM

Redwings

Subject: RE: Seasonal redwing atrocity
From: Mr Happy
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 10:11 AM

Danced to it last night in Kelsall!

http://jc.tzo.net/~jc/tmp/Tune018628.midi

Subject: RE: Seasonal redwing atrocity
From: gnu
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 10:11 AM

Sorry. I am Canuck. Couldn't resist a hocky link.

...(this is in England, by the way. I think American redwings may be a different bird)...

We actually do get them here.
I was surprised too!

Subject: RE: Seasonal redwing atrocity
From: Jeri
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 10:16 AM

Ours are redwinged blackbirds. They don't tend to flock and like to perch high up on trees or cat-tails or whatever. The females look a bit like your redwings though.

Subject: RE: Seasonal redwing atrocity
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 10:31 AM

Billy Ed Wheeler, Red Winged Blackbird.

Subject: RE: Seasonal redwing atrocity
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 11:35 AM

Cheer up. They could have waited until you'd made your wreath, then done like theseCheeky Robins.:-)

THIS is what I think of when I hear Redwing, as Jeri has noted. They are one of my favourites.

Subject: RE: Seasonal redwing atrocity
From: gnu
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 11:48 AM

We get them here as well, but not very often in the city. I see them mostly in farm fields and around the bog country.

Subject: RE: Seasonal redwing atrocity
From: Neil D
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 12:10 PM

There is also an American song called "Little Redwing" however, Little Redwing is an Indian Maid, a poor little prairie maid.

Subject: RE: Seasonal redwing atrocity
From: Bee
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 01:01 PM

Pretty little birds - rarest of the rare to see one here, as gnu's link points out. Not on my life list, which I sporadically update.

I do like our Redwing Blackbirds, though. Graceful, pretty, and a sure sign spring has sprung when you see them posing amongst the cattails and calling out their ownership of pond or bog.

Subject: RE: Seasonal redwing atrocity
From: Greg B
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 01:20 PM

They apparently spend part of the year as 'Union Maids.'

Subject: RE: Seasonal redwing atrocity
From: Padre
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 08:45 PM

The 'Redwing' looks something like an American Robin (same Genus name)

Here in Virginia, our Pyracantha (Firethorn) bushes are regularly assaulted by Cedar Waxwings on their Southern migration. Last October, I was in my study at St. Paul's, when I heard a commotion outside. When I opened the door, I saw about 75 Waxwings on the bush, and in 10 minutes they had stripped it bare. Five minutes later, there was not a bird in sight.

Padre

Subject: RE: Seasonal redwing atrocity
From: sapper82
Date: 24 Dec 07 - 01:46 PM

Quite agree Giok, they are a lovely little bird. Usually they arrive here in advance of bad weather which usually follows within a few days..

Subject: RE: Seasonal redwing atrocity
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 27 Dec 07 - 06:10 AM

Padre - I have a huge Pyracantha and made some jelly from the fruit for the first time this year. The Pyracantha in my side garden was claimed by a mated pair of Northern Mockingbirds about 7 years ago and every spring they raise a baby or two in it. They are generous with the fruit at other times of the year but when they have an egg or a hatchling in there - whew! Watch-out!

I used to loathe Mockingbirds because of the bachelor males that used to camp out in trees that line our streets and sing like drunken sailors from sundown to sunup. We tried everything from tossing rocks at them to turning the hose on them and those pesky unattached males just kept hollerin' all night long. It was the tremendous devotion as parents that changed my mind about Mockingbirds. I grew to love the pair in my Firethorn and named them. I look forward every year to their new baby or babies as the case may be.

They had one baby that was afflicted with that mysterious bird pox that causes those bulbous tumors to grow on their face and feet. We called him Quaisimoto. I saved him from a cat attack and doctored him a few times when the tumor on his foot threatened to keep him from latching unto branches. I foolishly thought I could help him. He had a great deal of trouble learning to fly any distances but the stubborn little mutant survived almost a year with the tender care of his aprents and my putting apple halves out for him and his family. He had to stay close to our house because he was blind in one eye from the pox and had a weak wing from the cat attack but he seemed happy. One day he flew nearly all the way down the street and I never saw him again. I'd like to think he just shuffled off to new hunting grounds but I think it's a safe bet that our local Red-Shouldered Hawk ate him. She ate his brother the year before.

THis past spring, Quasimoto's parents had twins who did very well. I named them Dean and Trixie in honor of Dean Koontz and his now dear departed golden retriever, Trixie. Now that the twins are fully grown, I can't really tell them from the other mickingbirds but their parents still come to my front yard every morning to hunt insects and to eat apple chunks from ther apple halves I put out for them.

On Christmas day this year, we had the biggest surprise of all - 4 wild green parrots (conures) came and visited for some time. Having seen the film and read the book The Wild Parrots of telegraph Hill, it was so exciting! I've seen wild parrots in other parts of Los Angeles before but never as far south as I am. They came back on the 26th and I'm so hoping that this is part of a new territory for a group of them. They're noisy but so much fun to watch!

I got some digital photos of the parrots as well as of Dean and trixie and Quasimot & family. I'll try and get them up over the weekend and psot some links.