Invasive

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And, the Cedar Waxwing is certainly a handsome bird to behold. From the sunshine yellow tips of its tail-feathers to its peaked crest and black mask, Cedar Waxwings are among the most distinctive birds we see in Western Washington. 

Traveling in large social groups, Cedar Waxwings are often heard before they are seen. Their high-pitched, trilling call carries over other noises in the urban environment. Once heard, one needs only to look for a flurry of activity in a nearby tree to spot them.

Cedar Waxwings are efficient foragers. A flock can pick a bush clean of its fruit or berries in a matter of minutes. 

Which brings us to the topic of invasives. For you see, Cedar Waxwings aren't particularly discriminating in their tastes. Beauty to them is the nearest ripe berry.

Yesterday, I had the good fortune to spend a hour with a flock of  waxwings in a wetland near the Deschutes River in Tumwater. There were several dozen feeding on the abundant bounty of Himalayan Blackberries and Bittersweet Nightshade. Unfortunately, both of these plants are non-native and invasive. 

And, of course the problem is not the eating. It is the dispersing of the seeds. As flocks of waxwings travel around Puget Sound, they deposit the seeds of the invasive plant they ate earlier. The whole of the Puget Sound region is interconnected and one set of blackberry seeds could easily travel miles with a flock of birds. 

If you see invasive plants in your yard, try to remove them as soon as possible. And, remember that invasive plants, including holly and English ivy, should be double bagged and put in your trash (not yard waste) to avoid spreading invasive species through compost.

Cedar Waxwing expertly plucking a ripe Bittersweet Nightshade berry

Nightshades are beautiful but can choke native vegetation 

According to King County

Bittersweet nightshade is a slender perennial vine or semi-woody shrub found throughout King County, especially in creeks and wetlands, as well as field edges, gardens, parks, and roadsides. This plant is toxic to people, pets, and livestock. Leaves are dark green to purple-tinged. Mid-May to September, produces star-shaped purple flowers with stamens fused in a prominent yellow cone. Flowers followed by round or egg-shaped berries that ripen from green, to orange, to bright red. All stages of berry can grow on same plant. Spreads by seed, as well as stem and root fragments.
 

Bittersweet nightshade is not on the Washington State Noxious Weed List and property owners are not required to control this plant.  However, in King County, it is classified as a Weed of Concern and control is recommended, especially in natural areas that are being restored to native vegetation and along stream banks where nightshade can interfere with fish habitat.

Blackberries are a popular fruit with many birds

According to King County

Himalayan blackberry is a Eurasian species introduced for fruit production that is highly invasive and difficult to control. It forms impenetrable thickets, spreads aggressively and has significant negative impacts to native plants, wildlife, recreation and livestock. Due to the deep roots, digging up large established plants is difficult and may need to be repeated if not all the roots are removed. Repeated cutting can help keep the plants from overtaking over vegetation. Contact the noxious weed program for advice on control methods.