Cedar and Bohemian Waxwings of the Vermilon River, A Post to WBW.



Ripe Berries.


 Everything seems to be moving so fast; the first of the berries are now showing. That fact brings my buddies the Cedar Waxwings, who love the edible berries. They survive on insects until the berries come into season. They're as sociable as their cousins the Bohemian Waxwings, which we're fortunate to have also. Fruit even enters into the courtship of these birds. Cornell said that sometimes these birds consume fermented berries, and end up in an alcoholic haze. Do you suppose they drink and fly?


I posted some photos of the Bohemians to show you the difference. The photos were taken in the winter when a flock of  100 or more descended on the remains of the crab apple trees where I live.


Bohemian Waxwing.




Bohemian Waxwing.




Bohemian



Looking at the photos below which are Cedar Waxwings, the most noticeable difference is the  red under the tail area, followed by more ornate wing flashing's.


Amazing, the Bohemians are just a little more than the Cedars.


Cedar Waxwings.




Cedar Waxwings.




No Red Under the Tail.




Shows Wing Markings.




Cedar Waxwing.

 Before I end the post, let me answer a few general questions. Canada is the second largest land mass in the world; Russia being the first. A good guide is that the population of Canada is 10 percent of the US. That population is by and large strung along the border between Canada and the US. The 10 Provinces all have wilderness areas, not parks, they have them too, but wilderness areas. The 10 provinces differ, but generally match the American region directly south of them. Southern Alberta and the plains area of the US are just part of a NA system. But we have the North in all provinces, except the Maritimes, and indeed the Yukon Territory is the north. Ontario, my province, is larger than most European countries. The wilderness is unoccupied except for mining or logging. The land is generally owned by the crown or the people of the province. In the US you have parks owned by the Feds or States, and even some lands which you lease for grazing. But I can't for the life of me think of any open, non-occupied wilderness area, except mountains which are inaccesible. There is even a time change in Ontario.

 So in answer to the questions of can you kayak or canoe the Vermilon River? Yes right to its source about 400-500 miles to the NE of me, or to the south yes right to Lake Huron where it ultimately goes. To the north you can push on right to James Bay. Are you going to see anyone? Maybe to the south some, but to the north certainly not many. Do people do it? Not the ones from here, although some will snowmobile a bit of it. Why don't they? Because they don't like the forest, and because their ATVs run out of gas, and because it's dangerous if you're not careful. Have I done it? Before my accident a bit of it; I can't sit a canoe now for any lenght of time. Besides if you're taking photos you're not going to go far because there is so much to see. I remember an old bush pilot telling me of a Professor from U of T that he use to fly in every year who canoed back. But that's rare. Are there guides? Sure not around here. ATV riders follow the trails at a fast clip, and don't see much or really go far. So there is no need for guides. Could you find one? I expect so from adjacent areas.

I put this information in so you would have some perspective of the area in which I am fortunate to live. I  am not promoting low populations, but I am promoting informed populations who conserve and savour what they have. If you think I'm hard on the local residents, perhaps so. But in the end they suffer in such terrible ways. The incidence of cancer is high, aggravated by high smoking rates, obesity runs wild caused by bad food and lack of exercise. How much exercise is there in riding an ATV. They and their children are poor swimmers in an area of almost unlimited lakes and rivers. Booze and drugs are a problem and education is undervalued, because of the longtime availability of  unskilled jobs which is now declining. There is then a jerk job which even if it is paid well limits the ability to enjoy leisure in a healthy way, and their children. Status is derived from whatever the TV ads say is cool, another reason to own a big truck, an ATV,a big boat.They and their children are regularly injured or killed in accidents involving  mechanized vehicles. Sound familiar? Because it's just not here is it?


A Post to WBW @ http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/

Lots of Colour on The Vermilon River. A Post to WBW

Close Up

These guys are food loyal only and in a sense are nomadic bandits plundering berries where they can so their mask suits them.


Just Ate The Whole Berry



I'm Looking At You



They're All Mine




Side View




Mostly A Head View.




Male RedPoll

  Click on images for full size.


Male RedPoll

I just decided to give you a taste of the incredible colour in these guys. They are both here during the winter, but the bohemians are here all year, while the RedPolls are winter migrants. Against a snowy background you can see how bright these fellows are, so gray skies and white snow are really not so bad, and are actually a grand background.

American Crow

Of course, they also appear brighter against basic black.


A Post to WBW @ http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/

Bohemian Waxwings of the Vermilon River. A Post to WBW.

Cedar Waxwing




Bohemian Waxwing

   Boom & I are blessed beyond thousands when you figure that we shoot pictures in a wilderness  right outside our door. The birds, animals, insects, and scenery are there for the watching, no looking in some cases required. We don't drive, we walk, no carbon imprint at all. But this was even an easier photo session as these Bohemians turned up outside my apartment front one day to harvest the ornamental crab apple trees at the front of the building.

First a bit of a description difference. The Bohemians have the red rump and the more ornate feather striations if that is the word. Note the difference between photo one and two. The Cedar Waxwing has a yellow rump( under the tail feather, and not shown). The Bohemians are bigger, but who has a tape measure when you're in the woods. Bohemians normally live further north than the Cedars. Cedars restrict themselves to NA, while Bohemians like RedPolls wander the world. There is a Japanese Waxwing, but we don't need to worry about him here.

Bohemian Waxwing

Both are incredibly social birds flying in large flocks not just in a common search for food, but for fun, play and courting. They prefer coniferous forests, and are voracious feeders mainly on berries, but eat insects also. Bohemians incorporate food into their courting rituals where the male and female will exchange food, as well waxwings will exchange food as part of their playful interaction.


Bohemian Waxwing




Bohemian Waxwing

Few birds, whether Cedar or Bohemian, are as attractive, especially with that Mohawk and incredible face mask,and we have both.

Just A Quick Note: I caught up to a note on a post on my blog about the danger of the Alberta Tar Sands. Statoil, the Norwegian state oil company, is a participant, and is in court this week for removing too much fresh water from the area. Norwegian Grandparents, an organization of 2000 grandparents is running a public apology in the Edmonton newspaper to Canadians on behalf of Norway for being involved in the tar sands. There is a very concerned group in Norway including banks, an insurance investor, and citizens that want Statoil out of the tar sands because of destruction to the boreal forest. You can catch it by googling Norwegian grandparents and the tar sands. Hope you'll take a look, read the other posts and pressure for the shut down of the Tar Sands, because we do not have the technology.

A Post to WBW @ http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/

A further note: my work screen is showing the format of this blog fine, but the preview which is even missing part of the header, is not so I hope everything is OK.