Ever Seen A Mockingbird Go After A Squirrel?

[JSngry]

Now THAT'S entertainment!

[Dmitry]

Now THAT'S entertainment!

Anything to increase the post count, eh?

[JSngry]

No dude, t's legit. Then mockingbirds will go after a squirrel like nobody's business, and the squirrel will run like hell until it gets out of reach, which is usually quite a haul. It's Nature, it's funny as hell, and it's free!

And don't feel sorry for the squirrels. Those beady-eyed little fucks have been creeping me out lately.

Don't ask....

[Dmitry]

I believe that. I once had a small parrot that wrecked havoc on my cat. Cat was mortally scared of that damn bird. He wouldn't even dive on the cat, he would just fly down to the floor and run after her, pretty fast too.

I had to give him away after only a week or so because he was chewing up everything in sight, including doors and oak book cases.

It was a freaky bird, I think he had some mental problems, would pluck his feathers out, yell non-stop at night, etc. When I saw him look funny at my Lps once, that was it. Lovely Norwegian blue...

[.:.impossible]

Ever seen a 'hummingbug'? I hadn't until this weekend. I'm not sure this image does justice... I'm sure it goes by another name, but this is what the girls told me they were called. Apparently, they see them in all colors.

The ones I saw looked like a cross between a hummingbird and a honeybee.

It's nature, it's funny as hell, and it's free!

[7/4]

Sure, but not since I had a backyard to look at.

[Joe G]

Ever seen a 'hummingbug'? I hadn't until this weekend. I'm not sure this image does justice... I'm sure it goes by another name, but this is what the girls told me they were called. Apparently, they see them in all colors.

The ones I saw looked like a cross between a hummingbird and a honeybee.

It's nature, it's funny as hell, and it's free!

Hummingbird Moth is the common name. Haven't seen one in many years. They are trippy.

[Jim Alfredson]

I believe that. I once had a small parrot that wrecked havoc on my cat. Cat was mortally scared of that damn bird. He wouldn't even dive on the cat, he would just fly down to the floor and run after her, pretty fast too.

I had to give him away after only a week or so because he was chewing up everything in sight, including doors and oak book cases.

It was a freaky bird, I think he had some mental problems, would pluck his feathers out, yell non-stop at night, etc. When I saw him look funny at my Lps once, that was it. Lovely Norwegian blue...

I think most parrots are crazy, probably because they are locked up in cages or in people's homes. They're supposed to be in the wild.

[catesta]

I believe that. I once had a small parrot that wrecked havoc on my cat. Cat was mortally scared of that damn bird. He wouldn't even dive on the cat, he would just fly down to the floor and run after her, pretty fast too.

I had to give him away after only a week or so because he was chewing up everything in sight, including doors and oak book cases.

It was a freaky bird, I think he had some mental problems, would pluck his feathers out, yell non-stop at night, etc. When I saw him look funny at my Lps once, that was it. Lovely Norwegian blue...

D, is he now one of the Brooklyn Parrots?

[Man with the Golden Arm]

No dude, t's legit. Then mockingbirds will go after a squirrel like nobody's business, and the squirrel will run like hell until it gets out of reach, which is usually quite a haul. It's Nature, it's funny as hell, and it's free!

And don't feel sorry for the squirrels. Those beady-eyed little fucks have been creeping me out lately.

Don't ask....

the squirrels in my neighborhood are a tougher bunch.

[catesta]

[kh1958]

Search

Birding / Wild Birds

Mockingbirds

Bullies and Songsters

What bird is that singing so sweetly, so loudly, and for SO long in the middle of the night? If you're in North America, most likely it is the Northern Mockingbird, (Mimus polyglottos). This bird, whose Latin name means "many-tongued mimic," may sing the songs of up to two hundred other birds but it also may be the bully of your backyard, chasing all the other birds away.

The Northern Mockingbird is a long-tailed and somewhat short-winged bird, will a dark strong but short beak. It is light gray with black wings that have two distinctive white wing bars that appear to flash when flying. The long tail is black with white edges. It is about 10 inches in length with a wingspan of 13-15 inches. This bird is found throughout the southern half of the United States and appears to be expanding its range northwards, especially in the Northeast U.S. Northern Mockingbirds are also found down into Mexico and northern Central America but it shows up occasionally in Europe as well as Alaska!

In addition to singing songs of other birds, the Northern Mockingbird has an uncanny knack of picking up sounds of your neighborhood, such as a squeaky gate, a barking dog, a horse's neigh, or even a wolf whistle of teenage boys! If you have a nearby mockingbird, try whistling a tune each time you see it. You might teach it a new song. Many a birder has heard an elusive bird only to discover that he was tricked by a mockingbird. If you hear a song repeated 3-5 times, then a different song repeated, you might be listening to a Northern Mockingbird.

Every evening as the sun begins to set, there is a Northern Mockingbird in our yard that flies to the peak of the roof, pouring out sweet songs. He'll move to the fence after a bit, singing new songs, then flit over to the telephone line and continue to sing until the sun goes down as if he's tell the world that all is well. He'll keep a vigilant eye on his nest during the night, ever ready to defend the young birds.

The most numerous songs are sung by males without a mate. Unfortunately, the middle of the night is the time these bachelor birds loudly sing their repertoire, attempting to find an unattached female. My husband has remarked that he is unsure if the females are attracted by the songs or whether they decide to be the male mockingbird's mate so they can get some sleep!

Mockingbirds are primarily insect-eaters, gobbling up the unwary bugs in your yard. They also absolutely love fruit but will eat most anything. These backyard bullies will even chase off other birds from feeders that they are not even interested in using. Northern Mockers will run along the lawn after an insect as well as forage in trees and bushes. In some habitats, they will feast on crayfish, lizards and even small snakes.

Northern Mockingbirds form long-term pairs and together build cup-shaped nests about 3-10 feet off the ground in trees and snags. The nests are built of short sticks, leaves, discarded bits of string and other found materials, and lined with softer materials. The female lays 2-6 eggs and incubates them while the male fiercely defends the territory from predators, anything from another bird, snake, dog, or even a person too close to their nest. The eggs hatch in 12-13 days, and the young birds grow quickly with both parents feeding the hungry brood. 11-13 short days pass and then the the young mockingbirds are ready leave the nest, try their wings, and live on their own.

If you have a mockingbird that drives other birds from your feeders, try setting up a feeder with tempting tidbits that Northern Mockingbirds are fond of eating. Put this feeder separate from the others, preferably with trees or even a house between them. Fill the mockingbird's feeder with goodies like fruit of all kinds, raisins, fresh corn, leftover crusts of bread, raw hamburger, mealworms, holly berries, and even meat scraps. Try hanging a bunch of grapes on the feeder from cups hooks that you can screw into the wood. Once the mockingbird discovers the treats, you'll be sure that he'll come back time and time again.

http://birding.about.com/library/weekly/aa062001a.htm

[rostasi]

the squirrels in my neighborhood are a tougher bunch.

Same here. After 10 years, I've finally found a squirrel-proof feeder. Finally foiled them...for now.

After a hard day:

[Joe G]

To answer the question, I have never seen that. I have see a blue jay go after a squirrel, and I've seen a grackle come after me. Bye bye blackbird!

[rostasi]

I've seen all kinds of "attack" combinations in this yard.

...and when babies are involved - whoa! watch out!

I think that because we...um, encourage...wild activity in our yard

(I have some amazing owl recordings from just outside my studio),

we've been recognized as a "Backyard Wildlife Habitat" by the

National Wildlife Federation and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept.

who awarded us a couple of certificates. Lots of food and an organic yard

seems to bring them 'round!

This morning I've been wondering why it's been so quiet outside here,

but I'm now looking at a hawk just outside my window, so that explains a lot!

Tried getting a picture - memo to self: always keep a memory stick in your camera!

Edited August 7, 2006 by rostasi

[Dave Garrett]

Mockingbirds and blue jays can be VERY aggressive toward anything that gets too near their nests, regardless of size. I've seen them dive-bomb neighborhood cats as well as my German Shepherd, and I've had a close encounter with them on a couple of occasions myself.

[rostasi]

not a great pic,

but you can see the hawk smack dab in the middle of this:

Hawk

[JSngry]

Hawks, yes, always a problem...

[sidewinder]

When I saw him look funny at my Lps once, that was it. Lovely Norwegian blue...

Yikes...

Thankfully, we don't have mockingbirds over here. Or Norwegian Blues !

Edited August 7, 2006 by sidewinder

[Noj]

My backyard sits against a hillside which hosts red-tailed hawks and sparrow hawks, who regularly do battle with crows and mockingbirds. The fat ass squirrels back there get fed like kings by my retired next-door neighbor. I've rarely seen them have altercations with the mockingbirds.

There are tons of different birds in my area--hummingbirds, western tanagers, doves, quails, and many more whose names I do not know. Four rabbits frequent the back lawn, they've been munching away on a daily basis for months. Deer in the area are practically domesticized, they'll grub down on the neighbor's ivy while I shoot hoops out front. A mother deer had twin fawns a few months ago which are growing out of their spots. One has sprouted antlers.

[rostasi]

Very cool!

Having deer eat right out of your hand

(or most any animal, I suppose) can be quite a thrill too!

[Dmitry]

Very cool!

Having deer eat right out of your hand

... can be quite a thrill too!

Two words - Lyme Disease

[rostasi]

Yes, but that's transmitted by tics isn't it?

Also, I can't go thru life bowing to fear tactics.

Common sense gets you far.

I still feed the birds despite bird flu noises.

They still have birdbaths on property despite

west Nile virus reports, etc...

[couw]

Yes, but that's transmitted by tics isn't it?

indeed.

and they are all waiting to jump on you the moment you stretch out that food filled hand to their antlered host...

[rostasi]

Yes, but that's transmitted by tics isn't it?

indeed.

and they are all waiting to jump on you the moment you stretch out that food filled hand to their antlered host...

Yes, but using common sense...you check for these things after you've been out and about.

If I remember what I heard thru the Nature Conservancy folks,

you have to have them for a day or two before you actually contract LD.

No deer here, but I like to go to a place where the deer do approach you

which is a Conservancy owned property in NM. They've never reported any cases of LD.

Again, I think that if you just use common sense

and don't get so overwhelmed by the rhetoric,

then one can enjoy our natural surroundings.