Adult Mockingbird Protective Behavior

Over the past week or so, I have felt blessed to be able to be an eyewitness to a nest of baby mockingbirds in my crepe myrtle tree. I have felt the pain of the mother bird when its baby was killed. And, I have experienced the joy of the baby bird taking its first steps toward learning how to fly. The biggest thing I have observed and learned more about is the protective behavior of the adult mockingbird.

Yesterday, I found myself totally wrapped up in keeping an eye on the baby and adult mockingbirds. It was nearly impossible to get any other work done. I normally would have spent the afternoon weeding my side and back yards ... but there was absolutely no way that the two adult mockingbirds would leave me alone!

When the baby mockingbirds were still in the nest, I found I could move around my backyard without being dive bombed by the adult mockingbirds. Once the birds were out of the nest and hopping around the yard, things changed. They become louder and more vocal and were shouting at me as I entered certain areas of the yard. Quite a few times, they flew at the back of me with some vengeance. "OK, OK!" I kept telling them.

So, I opted to spend a little time with the adult mockingbirds in the back area of my yard near the nest. I was talking to them all the while they answered me back in bird talk ... "Hit the road, sister!" "Scram." "Hey, get outta here!" And, then, probably after I snapped some twenty-two pictures ... "Stop taking my picture!"

Adult Mockingbird Protective Behavior in 22 Photos

Here is a sequence of twenty-two photos as I took them of the adult mockingbird exhibiting very protective behavior as I was too near the nest. You can view it like a slide show by clicking on the first one, at the left below, and then cycling through the subsequent photos with the right arrow!

Did you have a favorite photo of the adult mockingbird exhibiting its protective behavior? I personally can't pick just one, but have a few that are quite interesting. For example, in #11, I love how the mockingbird seems to look right at me, "What's the matter with you?"

In another blog post, I'll share more photos of the adult mockingbird pair that shows them when they were doing their mating dance!

Want to know more about identifying backyard birds? You might appreciate the National Geographic Backyard Guide to the Birds of North America. I've long been a fan of National Geographic and yearned to be a photo journalist for them. So, I guess in a way I am a backyard bird photo journalist today!

In closing ... I want to personally thank each and every one of you who have enjoyed my photos and stories about the mockingbirds. I also appreciate those that do not steal copyrighted images.

Baby Mockingbird Learning to Fly

After finding the dead baby mockingbird this morning, I have been more curious about the progression of the baby mockingbirds' new lives. It was right around lunch time that I was out in my backyard putting out some cubes of bread for the birds. I then went to check on the mockingbird nest. The adult mockingbirds were a bit more menacing today, so I didn't spend much time outside. A short time later, I looked out to see if any bird had found the bread cubes. That's when I saw a baby mockingbird hopping through my backyard coming towards the mexican petunia garden.

Baby Mockingbird Hiding in Mexican Petunia

"Hello Little Peep!" I whispered as I snapped the baby mockingbird as it hopped into the base of one of my Mexican Petunias to seek refuge. Next thing I knew, there was a whole lot of squawking and dive bombing by the pair of adult mockingbirds. "OK, OK!" I exclaimed.

BABY MOCKINGBIRD LEARNING TO FLY

I came inside and then watched for the little baby mockingbird to move. And, oh boy did it ever! It was hopping like crazy until it got to the privacy fence. Then, it started to test its little wings.

Baby Mockingbird Testing Its Wings for the First Time

Along the length of the sideyard privacy fence the little bird was testing its wings! It was the cutest thing to see.

Baby Mockingbird Testing Its Wings for the First Time

I wonder if the adult mockingbird told the little baby to get out there and test those wings. And, if the adult told the baby, I'll keep my eye on you if you need me. Now, go ahead and learn how to fly! Then, we'll go for a FLY around later.

Baby Mockingbird in the Cypress Mulch

As I stepped out into the sideyard to check on the baby mockingbird, it concerned me that it was so vulnerable. If I can get this close to take that baby's picture, what about that red shouldered hawk that lives in the neighborhood. It makes me seriously think that is what happened to the previous baby mockingbird! It must have been learning to fly and the hawk just snapped it up! YUMM, lunch!

Baby Mockingbird Hiding Behind Fence Post

I see you! The baby mockingbird found a little spot behind the fence post to hide. I'm pretty sure if a hawk wants to get you, he can! Be careful.

It seems that when a baby mockingbird is learning to fly, that he or she is pretty much on his own! I wonder if the adult bird said, "watch me ... and go ahead and do it!" I would have thought that the adult would be there on the ground with the little bird being a little more helpful.

Adult Mockingbird Guarding the Nest

A few hours later, I came outside to check on that little bird. Holy Smokes! But it became a little more dangerous to try and walk into my sideyard. This time, the adults were teaming up to get me out of the yard. When I came inside, I came to my side window in the master bath. There, I could clearly hear the sound of the baby someplace along the side of the house ... and the adult was running along the top of the fence to check on it. Where will that baby go tonight for refuge?

Adult Mockingbird Guarding the Nest

Take a look at those two last pictures of the adult mockingbirds guarding the nest. I'm thinking those are the two different adults. Can you see the "stink eye" they have on?

As I sit here writing this blog post, it is about three and one half hours or so since I started to chart the baby mockingbird hopping through the yard, testing its wings and learning to fly. Throughout that time, I have observed the adults doing extra duty! They are keeping an eye on the young one in the yard and still feeding a little one or two still in the nest! I can hear the baby sounds the little peeps make when the adult has food!

I am seriously hoping that the little peep learns to fly and can seek some refuge tonight from the cats who come to dinner ... I don't want them being the dinner! And, what do I have for my dinner? Why, I have seriously fixed some breaded baked boneless chicken wings ... had some last night and tonight it is leftovers with rice.

FLY, FLY AWAY BABY MOCKINGBIRD!