[EBB Sightings] Cedar Waxwings

It seems it happens every year, folks wondering about the Cedar Waxwings.
This is what Grinnell and Miller say, in their 1944 book The Distribution of
the Birds of California,  page 376:

"Status--Summer resident of limited area of northwest; breeding population
sparse.  Widespread winter visitant, but irregular in local occurrence and
numbers from year to year, and within any one season.  Although there is a
north-south direction to the annual movements of the species as a whole,
individuals and flocks may be essentially nomadic.  On the basis of
aggregate numbers in the State, common, or in some years even abundant.
Occasional stragglers may be found on wintering grounds between early June
and late September when species normally absent, although none reported in
July."

Based on their studies, I would say that Cedar Waxwings are doing now what
they have pretty much always done, that is hang around until late spring.
We may have prolonged it slightly by having more trees and bushes with
berries.

The Save Mono Lake Committee and the late David Gaines reprinted this book
in 1986.  Publisher information inside the book is as follows:  Artemisia
Press, P.O. Box 119, Lee Vining, CA 93541.  At the time it was $18.00 for a
soft cover edition.  It may no longer be available.

Hugh B. Harvey