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.

Mockingbird Nest in My Crepe Myrtle Tree

For the past few weeks, I had been noticing a few adult mockingbirds hanging around my backyard. A couple of the mockingbirds had seemed a bit comfortable with me being out in my sunflower garden and other gardens.

Mockingbird on the Roof

That mockingbird on the roof looks rather like a juvenile. I could be wrong, especially when you consider that the next mockingbird on the roof has food in its beak.

Mockingbird on the Roof with Food

With all the mockingbirds in my yard, there had to be a nest of little ones nearby! But where?

Mockingbird Nest in My Crepe Myrtle Tree

In the Spring of 2012, I spent fourteen weeks with a Corona hand saw, pruning the 50 ft. growth from the crepe myrtle trees which line my backyard. If I hadn't brought my crepe myrtles into line, I would never have experienced the thrill of finding a mockingbird nest in one of those trees.

Baby Mockingbirds in a Nest in My Crepe Myrtle Tree

It was one of those normal days, where I was out in my backyard doing a walk around to photograph my sunflower garden from different angles. I had already encountered one adult mockingbird in the grass squawking at me.

Adult Mockingbird in Grass Guarding Nest Perimeter

Just this morning, the orange male tabby was walking into my backyard along the line of crepe myrtles. As he neared the fifth tree, I saw a mockingbird swoop down and throw him off balance. He shook that off and turned to approach me. I had his food out, but he was approaching me to say "Good Morning."

Adult Mockingbird in Tree Guarding Nest Perimeter

A couple of times a day, I will check on the mockingbird nest to see if the peeps are still active. Each time get up close to the tree, the pair of mockingbirds will appear out of the trees.

Adult Mockingbird in Tree Guarding Nest Perimeter

This year, I haven't had any adult mockingbird swoop down on me like it did to the cat. Perhaps they are smart enough to know that they don't need to fear me; I am on their side.

Adult Mockingbird in the Mulch with Dinner

It is pretty amazing how much food the adult mockingbirds can find in my yard! It might be a good thing that I haven't been using too much of the Spectracide Triazicide Once and Done Insect Killer Granules in my backyard. I have been treating my front yard consistently with the Spectracide and that might explain why the mockingbirds built their nest in the backyard.

Adult Mockingbird on the Fence

It was less than two weeks ago that I was looking out my front window and thought it was snowing! We had garbanzo bean sized hail for several days with the rain ... so, I was thinking, maybe snow? As I looked a little closer, I realized it was bird feathers! I was seeing the down. My eyes followed it up into the Drake Elm and I spied the red shouldered hawk stripping a bird. I opened the front door so that it disturbed the hawk who then flew off with its catch. After picking up all the down and gray, black and white feathers, it was obvious that the hawk got a mockingbird. But, was it an adult or baby? I think it was an adult!!

Mockingbird Silhouette in a Tree

A NEW FOUND APPRECIATION

Since I found the nest of baby mockingbirds, I've become quite familiar with the babies sound when the adults are bringing food into the nest. I can honestly hear that sound, I think, from my kitchen which is at the front of my house. That's how finely tuned my ears have become to those babies.

I've always enjoyed listening to the mockingbird as it sings its musical song and emits some of the coolest sounds I've heard. They say the mockingbird can imitate many other birds's songs along with insect and amphibian sounds! How about that? As I stand by the nest a couple of times a day, I will talk to the baby mockingbirds, "Hello peeps!" I use the word "peeps" a lot ... so if you encounter a mockingbird one day that makes a sound like "peeps" ... you will know where he got it!

Baby Mockingbirds in a Nest in My Crepe Myrtle Tree

Researching the mockingbird, I learned from Wikipedia that the Northern Mockingbird is the only mockingbird commonly found in North America. They eat insects and fruits which makes them omnivores. What is also pretty curious about these birds is that they are intelligent. Remember I said that the mockingbirds don't swoop down at me? They are smart enough to know that I am not their intruder.

The Northern Mockingbird on average will lay 4 eggs in one breeding season. As I looked into the nest for the first time, I only saw 3 beaks! The pair of mockingbirds can have 2 to 4 broods per year. That makes me tired as I have been listening to the baby mockingbirds throughout the day. My appreciation for the adults taking care of those babies is HUGE! They are constantly on guard for intruders and constantly searching for food.

How long before those little babies can fend for themselves? It says that after only 10 to 15 days since hatching, that those little offspring will become independent! Holy smokes -- only two weeks of life and off they go? Oh my, they better be careful around my backyard as that red shouldered hawk is pretty active.

CELEBRATE THE MOCKINGBIRD