A huge flock of Cedar Waxwings were all over the mulberry in the woods
behind the house for several hours this evening feasting on the fruit. I
had been thinking of chopping down that tree as it sprang up from
who-knows-where (bird perhaps) and has grown so fast that it blocks my view
of the maples and gums and hickories which is especially annoying in the
fall but now I'm rethinking that. Squirrels and Brown Thrashers love the
fruit too and probably others that I haven't noticed. The fruit is white or
else it never gets a chance to turn dark as it is eaten so quickly. If it's
the Chinese white mulberry, it's considered an invasive species because of
hybridization with the native red mulberry (according to Wikipedia). An
Eastern Phoebe was sitting in the dogwood this afternoon. First one I have
seen in my yard this year.
Nancy Young
Blue Ridge, VA
Botetourt County
