This cache is part of a series of caches on the Great Florida Birding Trail for my Girl Scout Gold Award project. The purpose is to teach people about the birds native to the area so they can learn more about the birds and how to protect them and their environment.
This cache is located at Linear Park, the same location as the Brevard Zoo, 8225 N Wickham Rd, Melbourne, FL 32940. The park is open from 7 am to 7pm, but all visitors must be out of the trail by 7pm or they will be locked in. The path is made entirely of boardwalk so it is wheelchair friendly, it is also very wide (and hot) so riding a bike is a good plan.
Cedar Waxwing
Characteristics
- Sleek bird with a large head, short neck, and short, wide bill
- The tail is fairly short and square-tipped
- Pale brown on the head and chest fading to soft gray on the wings
- Yellow on the chest and on the tail
Behavior
- Social birds that you’re likely to see in flocks year-round
- Pluck berries off of trees and eat insects in the foilage
Conservation Status
- Local numbers vary widely, but overall population apparently is holding up well or even increasing
Habitat
- Open woodlands, fruiting trees, orchards
- Breeding habitat is influenced by availability of fruiting trees and shrubs
Interesting Facts
- Occasionally a line of waxwings perched on a branch will pass a berry back and forth, until one of them swallows it
- These birds are sociable at all seasons, and it is rare to see just one waxwing