Monday, January 21, 2008

Bohemian Waxwings return to the Mountain Ash

The waxwings live through winter harvesting mountain ash berries and similar fruit stored on trees around Anchorage. Swarms of up to 100 or more birds perch on the telephone lines or giant cottonwood. Then small groups swoop down into the tree an pick at the berries. Then fly back as another group takes over. Later, with berries all over the snow below, they return to get what's left.

The video is a compromise between what's reasonable for normal people, and all the video I actually captured for the hard core bird freaks. Well, it's only 3:25 minutes altogether. So view as much as you can take. Catherine and Dianne, enjoy. The slow motion is for you.




The quality is much worse than the original. It's hard because our windows look south, into the light. But the birds are right there. But I'll eventually learn the technical necessities of getting better quality onto the web. This was January 5, 2008. I would have loved to get the natural sounds of the birds, but I was inside and there were in the house noises, so I added the Chinese flute music.

5 comments:

  1. Sigh. I love every one of your bird posts. You never go wrong posting about birds as far as I am concerned! The music is so perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I agree with Tea N. Crumpet about your bird posts! The Waxwing video is truly fabulous!!! And, yes, the music is wonderful!
    Dianne

    ReplyDelete
  3. Steve, I am thrilled that your Waxwings are in your yard again!
    The slow motion was appreciated! Thanks! Dianne

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, so the entire post if from January 2008 and the bird video from January 5th.

    So, did the Waxwings arrive today, January 2nd in 2009?
    Dianne

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dianne, This post and video are from January 2008. The 2009 Waxwing post is New Years Day - Jan 1.

    ReplyDelete

Comments will be reviewed, not for content (except ads), but for style. Comments with personal insults, rambling tirades, and significant repetition will be deleted. Ads disguised as comments, unless closely related to the post and of value to readers (my call) will be deleted. Click here to learn to put links in your comment.