Hungry, Little Birds

   If the plight of the yaupons around the Bayou is any indication of the trees elsewhere, there are going to be some hungry, little birds come this winter.  Usually, you can depend on the wild yaupons to be heavy with berries come this time of year and the birds can depend on having a grand feast when the weather turns cold.  This year, however, the yaupon berries are scant with some shrubs having nary a fruit.  I found one small tree with berries out of the hundreds of trees on the property. The birds will have to look to other means for survival as that one tree will not suffice.

  While the yaupon berries are not fit for human consumption there are many birds that flock to the (usually) heavy laden trees.  One of my favorite times was spent watching an entire flock of cedar waxwings strip, not only the yaupons but the nadinas, as well.  Hundreds of the birds flew in, stripped the trees of berries then continued on their migration.  It was a sight to behold.  I guess this winter, the birds will have to be happy with birdseed that I put out for them.  Or...they will go hungry.  It may be a hard season for many critters due to the lack of berries but also due to the fact that almost every piece of property around us has been clear-cut.  The entire area is devoid of the trees that normally feed critters throughout the winter.  Besides the yaupons, oak trees, pine trees, pecan trees, holly trees and wild persimmon trees have been stripped from the ground.  Humans are pushing the critters out of their homes in record numbers.  It saddens me.  Poor, little critters.