Much to the delight of cedar waxwings and mockingbirds, this has been a good year for berries. I've encountered several trees ripe and loaded of late. This holly is at Island Home Park on the river just upstream from downtown.
The waxwing flocks share and share alike, but a lone mockingbird will tenaciously guard its bounty, driving away all rivals.
The curious thing is that the two species employ a different strategy. With the waxwings, there’s safety in numbers. You really never see a lone waxwing. But the downside is that they must move from tree to tree, county to county, state to state to find enough food to feed the group. They are gypsies, always on the move.
The solo mockingbird can remain in one territory and conserve its energy, after all, it’s much easier to find food for just one. But at what price? What is the downside? Is it loneliness?
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