Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!convex!killer!ames!mailrus!iuvax!inuxc!att!ihlpa!harolds1
From: harolds1@ihlpa.ATT.COM (Schessler)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: a strange experience with a Cedar Waxwing
Message-ID: <9139@ihlpa.ATT.COM>
Date: 26 Aug 88 16:39:30 GMT
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories - Naperville, Illinois
Lines: 21


Something very strange happened the other day!

I just happened to be waiting for someone
standing on a lawn at my office building.
I happened to spot a Cedar Waxwing perched in a tree 20 feet away.
I took a few steps at right angles to the path to the tree.
She (or he) flew from the tree to within a few feet of
me - landing on the grass and then took off again back to the tree.

I thought this behavior rather strange
(and being worried that some harm was done to her by
the lawn chemicals used that morning) I walked towards
the tree very slowly. I was able to get within 5 feet of the tree and when I
did she flew to my feet - I couldn't believe it - right to
my feet! Thinking she might perch on my finger 
- I take care of 5 free roaming house birds so I feel I understand birds pretty well -
I bent down slowly. She took off to another tree leaving me with a mystery.

Does anyone understand her behavior? I don't believe they nest on the ground
which might mean that she was diverting me from a nest.