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Bluebirds and Mockingbirds (Part 2)In addition to Messages that have appeared in the Bluebird Mailing Lists on this topic, the following are on the Audubon Society of Omaha website: Predators and Problems On The Bluebird Trail Date: Sun, 24 Mar 2002 11:56:15 -0600 At 01:09 PM 3/23/02 -0500, Karen Louise Lippy wrote: Obviously there are enough bluebirds around here all year long that at least one mockingbird has picked up this song :-) Kate Oschwald Date: Sun, 24 Mar 2002 11:53:50 -0600 At 01:13 PM 3/23/02 -0400, you wrote: I was told of one that perfectly imitated the "beep, beep,
beep" made by heavy equipment when it backs up! I would
have loved to hear it myself. Kate Oschwald Date: Sun, 24 Mar 2002 22:06:31 EDT I've not heard enough mockers to speak about their mocking ability... But I do know that during the years we had both a Siamese and a Korat, our catbirds developed a distinctly Oriental accent! Rhonda Date: Sun, 09 Jun 2002 14:11:14 -0400 Haleya and all, I remember the thread about mockingbirds a while ago, but never had more than passing trouble with them. Now, one has taken over the backyard and chased all other birds away. Only the male and female bluebird with their 2-day old babies are trying to stand against his constant aerial sorties. It has caused the bluebirds to go into hiding and I fear they are unable to get to their nestbox as often as they should to feed the nestlings. The mockingbird stands right on top of the box. Our family has spent two days in a "chase the mockingbird" mode, but to no avail - he is just getting bolder. Any ideas on how I can dissuade him? It's too far and he's too fast for a super soaker water gun to work. The paintball gun would be too dangerous (I don't want to accidentally kill him). I have removed all people-supplied food sources from the yard. I've run out of ideas! I hope there is an answer. I don't want to lose the nestlings. Pam in Harford County, Maryland From: "BONNIE A. YEAGER" dement"at"frognet.net Pamela, Fred Yeager, ... Date: Sun, 09 Jun 2002 18:21:34 -0400 Haleya Priest, Amherst MA Pamela Ford wrote: Haleya and all, ... From: "Bill Darnell" bdarnel3"at"bellsouth.net I have had good luck by putting extra boxes at the start of the season, around the yard. The Bluebirds drive the Mocker crazy sometimes, but flying to different boxes. The Mocker pair I have is as bad as they come, but the Bluebirds in the yard are into the second nesting right now. I have seen one of them feed while another is distracting, etc. Bill TN Haleya Priest, Amherst MA ... Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2002 11:27:17 -0700 (PDT) Pam, I had a Mocking Bird do this in my yard a couple of years ago and it also used the Eastern Bluebirds(EABL) nestbox for a perch. I made the Mocker his own perch, a T-post with a little 5x7 platform on top. Also due to the heat I moved the EABL nestbox over just alittle which put a tree branch over the top shading it, this inadvertently made swooping in for a landing (which the Mocker love to do) much more difficult for him. I love the Mocking Bird ... They do chase away other bad guys.
--- Pamela Ford jpford"at"comcast.net wrote: ... From: "Fread J" firefrost2"at"hotmail.com Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 15:30:07 -0500 (Central Daylight
Time) ... From: "Ron Kingston" kingston"at"cstone.net ... Date: Thu, 11 Jul 2002 21:51:01 EDT From: "Bill Darnell" bdarnel3"at"bellsouth.net ... From: "Burnham, Barbara" Barbara.Burnham"at"zzz.zzz Thanks Fread, Our local Mocker likes to play jokes on me. The first time I monitored our bluebird box (and a bit timid about it), Mr. Mocker quietly perched nearby. As I opened the box, he "screamed" a bluebird alarm call. I'm sure he got a laugh when I jumped 3 feet high. Some mornings, I like to get up early and have my coffee out on the deck, watch the sun rise and listen to the forest awaken. First step is to turn off the house alarm, then quietly open the door so as not to wake the household. (Sometimes we forget, and the alarm goes off.) One of those early mornings, as I gingerly opened the deck door, the alarm went off! But no, it was again Mr. Mocker, on the roof right overhead. It's not just me that he likes to play jokes on. When the bluebird fledglings were up in the trees learning to be bluebirds, he would imitate those baby cries, almost fooling the parents. I suppose he hoped they might bring him some mealworms, too. But Mr. Mocker has many saving graces, like when he boldly chases the red-shouldered hawk far and away from our bluebirds, or serenades us all day long with his beautiful local bird renditions mixed with the assorted house alarms, ambulances, and squeaky metal gates. The first time I experienced a night-singing mockingbird, I luckily thought to record it. Those two hours of tape were replayed during most depressing times, and always held the power to lift my spirits. Barbara Burnham -----Original Message----- ... Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2003 08:19:07 -0700 (PDT) My wife and I live in Northern Virginia and have had some recent bad luck with the Bluebird eggs in our nest box. This year, a first clutch of four eggs was laid in late March, but a spell of cold weather with rain and spring snow did the eggs in. We observed that they were not hatching well after the normal incubation time. Before I had a chance to remove the infertile eggs, it appeared that a predator had removed two of the four eggs. Then, before I could remove the remaining two eggs, the Bluebirds began laying another clutch of five eggs in the nest box. I could only positively identify and remove one of the old, bad eggs so I left the next box alone with six eggs in it (5 new eggs and one old one). My wife checked on them on a Monday afternoon and the eggs were fine. The following evening when I checked on them, they were all gone. The nest did not show signs of disturbance but a few scattered shell fragments were on the ground below the next box. One egg was also on the ground below the nest box with a small hole in the shell. My wife and I keep close tabs on the birds in our backyard, and we have not seen any House Sparrows or House Wrens. We occasionally have Carolina Wrens, but we haven’t seen them in recent weeks. We have had a pair of territorial Mockingbirds that have been fighting with the Bluebirds. Occasionally, the Mockingbirds would land on the nest box, but we’ve never seen them try to enter it. We have a squirrel and raccoon baffle on the post for the nest box, so we doubt that the predator was anything like that. Since this has all happened, the Bluebird pair has not been around and nothing has been occupying the next box. The rotten Mockingbirds are still around though! Has anyone ever had or heard of Mockingbirds raiding a Bluebird nest box in order to keep other birds out of their territory? Thanks for your help, From: "Larry A Broadbent" rockets"at"mnsi.net Todd wrote Reply: Regards, Your description of " ... From: "Mary Beth Roen" mbroen"at"hotmail.com Todd, When this has happened to me, it has always been House Wrens that pierced the eggs and carried them out, but I live in Wisconsin, so it could be a different avian predator for you. Mary Roen, River Falls, WI From: Mary Thomson [mailto:MaryThomson"at"comcast.net] Hi Everyone, I am thrilled to say that my Bluebird pair returned and have fledged one brood of five and have four eggs so far in a second box. What a joy! ("Miss Molly" perches on my windowsill and pecks at my window for mealies.) Unfortunately, the mockingbirds (our state bird) are harassing the Blues terribly--much more so than last year. Last year, I lured the mockingbirds to another part of the yard with fruit and nuts. This year, they won't leave because they want the mealies I'm now feeding the Bluebirds--and the mockingbirds get a lot of them! After finally getting the Bluebirds comfortable using the BB feeder (even a few of their babies when in!)--the mockingbirds have traumatized them to the point that they won't even go in now. I had to start putting the mealies in a dish in an open feeder and fight off the mockingbirds whenever I can but they still get most of the mealies. They aggressively chase the BBs every time they see them. If this keeps up, I'm afraid my pair won't continue to nest in my yard. I thought about discontinuing the feeding of mealies. I would hate to do this --especially with 9,000 of them in my garage! (When the BBs were using the feeder and feeding their young, they were consuming 300-400 per day.) Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Mary Thomson Chattanooga, TN From: Ron Kingston [mailto:kingston"at"cstone.net] Hello Mary and All, The Mockingbird is our bird clubs motto. Did you know that Thomas Jefferson (T.J. for short) had a pet Mockingbird in a cage at Monticello? Hey, maybe that is your solution. Cage your Mockers. (ha) The Mockingbird is also the state bird of Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi and Texas. We also feed our BB with Meal worms. Are you putting your worms in a closed feeder? Make sure the entrance is small enough so the Mock can't get inside but large enough for the BB to get to them. We haven't had any trouble with our few Mockingbirds we have here in Central Va. ... so far. Good Luck. Priscilla Central Va From: Mary Thomson [mailto:MaryThomson"at"comcast.net]
Thank s to Everyone who responded to my dilemma! I truly appreciate your help and it is so good to know there is a place where everyone with a common interest can help each other. Priscilla, the Mockingbird is the state bird of my state of Tennessee as well! (But no less bothersome when they act up!) Until recently, I never allowed the Mockers to get the mealies if I could help it-I chase them all the time. Several days ago, I just gave up! Previously, I fed the Bluebirds in a Bluebird feeder -the type with Plexiglas sides and wood ends with entry holes. This worked well for months (for the mother Bluebird, at least-- it took the male Bluebird months before he would go in). With their first brood fledged and both Mom and Pop now going into the BB feeder, things were great. The Mockingbirds would get some for the mealies, however, because the mealies crawl up the wooden ends and escape. The Mocker was quick to swoop down and grab all he could. (The warmer the weather, the faster they crawl out.) Next plan: I decided to put the mealies in a cup so they couldn't crawl out. It took about a week before the Bluebirds would go in the feeder with this change. Success finally and I thought my troubles were over. (Really cute: the babies learned to go to the entrance hole and Mom "Molly" would feed them right from inside the feeder. On several occasions, the babies entered the feeder.) Trouble: Mocker not happy that the mealies are not crawling out. Started attacking the Bluebirds mercilessly. And when he would find the BBs in the feeder he would screech and try to attack the BBs thru the Plexiglas. Needless to say, this traumatized the Bluebirds-they would panic! This is all happening right in front of my home office window. .Finally, the BBs refused to go into the feeder. They would just come up to my windowsill and beg; Molly pecks on the glass. Then two days ago, I noticed Molly had gotten so thin, it was frightening. That is when I gave up and put the cup in the open feeder, chasing the Mockingbirds whenever I could. This morning, I could not stand the Mockingbird aggression and put the cup away from the window. Now, I've put the cup back in the feeder and Mom and Pop BB will not go in. I would try not feeding more mealies but I just had 10,000 shipped to me last week! (oops!) Next step is probably (continuing to chase the Mockers) and try another BB feeder, probably Hyalea's, that does not confine them as much--(thanks Diane!!) ...Thing is... I have a Job! (beyond birding!). Mary Thomson Chattanooga TN From: Stan Blaylock [mailto:stanb103"at"bellsouth.net]
Mocking birds have eliminated all other birds from my yard. What to do??? Stan Blaylock From: Shane&Emily Marcotte [mailto:marco50"at"bellsouth.net] Hi Stan, You include your ph numbers but no area codes.Where are you located?When you suggest they have eliminated the others what do you mean?Chasing them from feeders?They may have a nest and are being protective. Shane Marcotte Watson Louisiana LBBS Member From: Phil Berry [mailto:mrtony8"at"mchsi.com]
Mockers are feeling their oats right now. New fledglings are being taught the rules of the road. They are everywhere. They will settle down in a week or so. I see them practicing their "dance" --- even with other species. they are fun to watch. Phil Berry From: paradocs2 [mailto:paradocs2"at"adelphia.net] I seem to have an increasing population of mockingbirds and think they may be competing with my bluebird population. Does anyone know if there is competition between these populations and how to best manage any problems? Steven Klein Middletown, MD 21769 From: Donald Edwards [mailto:pinecrestfarm"at"earthlink.net] Yes, Steven, I have had trouble with mockingbirds harassing adult BB feeding young so much that they abandoned their young. They do not want the box, just the territory, even though the BB were there first. I did not discover what was happening in time to save the babies. If it should happen again, I would attempt to move the house a few feet a day until it is out of the teritory of the mocker if you can figure out what that is. Depending on the nesting stage of the BB they will not mind it. It will be easier if you can discover and move it before nesting starts or gets far along. Ruth Edwards, Westport, MA.. From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com] I've had Mockingbird battles in my yard for several years. However, this little pair that nested this year just whipped the tar out of that old Mocker. They ran him/her off and "it" would sit on the edge of the yard in the trees trying to sing like the Bluebird. It would crack me up as it would miss a few notes. All of the off-springs this pair has raised are just as feisty. I see them letting any birds that come to the yard know they are the boss. I saw two of the juveniles run a Cardinal out of the yard. I guess I sound like I am bragging, but Bluebirds have a reputation for being too passive and get run over most times. I like to see them defend their territory!!! And, they have decided my yard is their territory. However, they do let many species bathe with them in the wonderful little puddles that I make with the water hose running down my gravel driveway. Today, before I had turned it on, I saw four of them around the end of the hose looking for the water. They love to get right where the water comes out and have a big splash! There are at least 30 bathing at one time and that includes, Bluebirds, American Goldfinches, some type of yellow Warbler, male and female Summer Tanager, Robins and a Blue Jay. The Blue Jay was way down at the end of the driveway. It is so dry here and they are loving the water I provide. Evelyn Cooper Delhi, LA From: Gretchen Cornell [mailto:gcornnell"at"diocesecpa.org] From: Stephen Hewlett [mailto:shewlett"at"earthlink.net] Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2005 10:11 AM Subject: Re: Mockingbird Problem I had a similar Mockingbird problem a couple of years ago. In this case it was the suet feeders that the Mockingbird was defending. First I spaced the feeders out in the back yard but that just made him work harder. I put a couple of suet feeders in the front yard and that solved the problem ... the Mockingbird couldn't effectively guard all feeders at once. Steve Framingham, MA
From: LindaEHunt"at"aol.com [mailto:LindaEHunt"at"aol.com] Does anyone else have a mockingbird problem? We have a resident mockingbird who thinks he is king of the roost out here. He harasses the EABLs at all 3 of my nestboxes, eats the mealworms I put out for them (I saw him down 15 in a row this am.), etc. He also raises his family in some of the bushes and vines around our house. I've read on this bbs that mockers don't kill the blues, but this guy has harassed them to the point that I'm really concerned about their nesting this year. Linda Hunt in Eastern NC From: elaine whittemore [mailto:bluebirdhousing"at"ellijay.com] Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2005 8:54 AM Subject: Re: Mockingbird Linda,I don"t have any friction between our BB and Mocking birds here(so far !). My Mom and Dad had an EABB nest in front of their livingroom window (about 20' out). Across the driveway in a bush From: Sheryl Bassi [mailto:sbassie"at"bellsouth.net] Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2005 10:11 AM Subject: RE: Mockingbird Hi, Linda, Don’t worry about Mr. Mockingbird. He may think he’s the king of the roost, but someone will soon put him in his place! As I read your post, I had to laugh, as it reminded me of a number of “mockingbird incidents” I’ve witnessed: One such Mr. Mockingbird tried to take over in my Mom’s yard last summer. She regularly puts the garden hose out to run down the drive to create cooling puddles for the local bird population to enjoy during the hot, dry summer months. Mr. M-bird decided to take advantage of the lovely cool puddles, and was not inclined to share with his feathered neighbors. Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird worked together to promptly run him out of their neighborhood! I work at a local grain-handling facility. While we have far too many house sparrows to encourage Bluebirds on the premises, other species abound, as well as squirrels, chipmunks, field rats, etc. I’ve spent many lunch breaks on the patio, watching Mrs. Mockingbird discourage the local squirrel population from getting too close to her nest. I’ve also seen her go after a few two-legged creatures as well when they ventured to close to a bush on the patio that she calls home. I’ve heard Mr. Mockingbird do his best to try to sing like a Bluebird. He does a pretty good imitation, but you can tell it’s not the real thing. While the Mockingbird tries really hard to prove he’s “King of the Hill”, he doesn’t pose much of a threat to other creatures in the area. They have a way of putting him “in his place” when necessary. I’d be much more worried about house sparrows and/or snakes causing problems for my nestlings. As far as eating the mealworms are concerned, like most animals, Mr. M will take a free meal wherever he can find one. If we had experienced a truly severe winter, I believe Mr. and Mrs. B would be willing to mix it up with the Mockingbird, and any others that stood between them and a meal. >From what I’ve observed, Blues can be pretty tough when it comes to taking care of themselves and their little ones. Hope you have a great nesting season! Sheryl Bassi, Leland, MS From: Michelle [mailto:shell7"at"cox.net] Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2005 4:18 PM Subject: RE: Mockingbird Hey Linda, I have the same problem! I have had this problem
for two nesting seasons. The mocker and blues fight all the
time, he steals the worms, chases them from the nest boxes,
all three of them, and tries to claim perches everywhere. The
bluebirds are usually to fast for the mocker and move acrobatically
better as well. I have seen them twirl to the ground together
too. Last year, we had 4 mocker nestings and about 10 babies
- whew! I can't stop the stealing of food, or the territorial
thing, and they have about an acre they fight over. I don't
think there is anything to do? Michelle Martin From: Dottie Roseboom [mailto:rosedot"at"mtco.com] Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2005 4:46 PM Subject: Re: Mockingbird I hope that no one gets upset by this, but Bluebirds do NOT have to be fed mealworms. Throughout the last several years, I've noticed an increase of mockingbird complaints, and most of them have involved mealworms being fed to Bluebirds. In my opinion, perhaps it's not beneficial to be inviting excessive aggression between species by providing mealworms. Just an observation at my own feeders and from several different lists. Dottie Roseboom From: Donald Edwards [mailto:pinecrestfarm"at"earthlink.net] Linda, I would be very worried about the mockingbird when there will be baby bluebirds in the nest. The second year that I had a nest of young bluebirds the mocker harassed the feeding adult blues so much that they abandoned their babies and they died. I was very new and was watching them but did not realize what happened until too late. If I should ever see this happening again, I would little by little move the nestbox of the blues out of the mocker's territory. If your blues are not nesting yet, it would be better to move the box now than take a chance. I was not feeding mealwoorms at the time so that was not an issue. Ruth Edwards, Westport, MA From: Kathy Johnson [mailto:krj"at"patmedia.net] Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2005 2:07 PM Subject: Re: Mockingbird I've just had a mocker move into my yard over the last 3 days and it's like a bird ghost town here now. I had three separate feeding stations, out of view of each other set up, and all were busy with birds most of the daylight hours. Now they all sit empty. And the mocker doesn't even eat the food, but he won't let any of the other birds go near any of the feeders. He just attacked and killed a nuthatch that tried to land on one of the feeders. Does anyone have any advice? Thanks! From: Chris&Crystal Hill [mailto:crystaljhill"at"msn.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2005 3:34 PM Subject: Re: Mockingbird I have just about the same as you describe, just over the
past week a Mockingbird has been chasing the birds away from
the feeding stations we have set up in the front and backyard.
And as you said the Mocker does not eat the food, but stands
guard for around 1-2 minutes at a time on the hooks above or
on the feeder tops. I feed safflower only, suet, and peanuts...
I feed my mealworms in an enclosed feeder with 1.5 holes on
either end. Crystal Hill From: Kathy Johnson [mailto:krj"at"patmedia.net] Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2005 12:21 PM Subject: Re: Mockingbird I just did a little research and found the following on the
Texas Park & Wildlife website "Though territorial all year around, during the nesting
season which falls between March and August, mockingbirds are
especially aggressive. I just had my first sighting of bluebirds this morning - both the male and female entered our nestbox - only to be chased away repeatedly by the mockingbird, until they gave up and left. Kathy Johnson From: Tree Greenwood [mailto:doctree"at"crosslink.net] Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2005 4:54 PM Subject: Re: Mockingbirds (long) On Thu 10 Feb 2005 at 12:20, Kathy Johnson <krj"at"patmedia.net> Hi, Kathy and all, Nesting Mockingbirds will even attack people. The back of
my head was pecked last year while picking raspberries. Mockingbirds are similar to many other birds. The male chooses and defends a territory, then goes through some amazing mating displays, hopping straight up into the air and displaying the white on his wings while singing out his entire repertoire of songs and calls to impress the females. Male Mockingbirds choose high places that are open for their mating displays; lamp posts, feeder poles, Purple Martin houses and such. Even though they probably won't nest until March or April, males are claiming and defending territory now (as many are noticing). I love the displays, antics and songs of male Mockingbirds enough that I tolerate their aggression. Even though your link says Mockingbirds nest from 1 to 50
feet off the ground, I've never seen a Mockingbird nest higher
than 4', usually in a dense bush or bramble. As noisy as the
male can be, he and his mate stay very quiet around their chosen
nest site. If you approach it, their first action will be to
call at you to distract you while you're still 20 or 30' away.
As you (or anything else) get closer, both the male and female
will get aggressive and may even attack when you're 10' or
so from the nest. > I just had my first sighting of bluebirds this morning
- both the male Kathy, I'm afraid there are only a few things you can do. First and easiest, wait. The male Mockingbird's territory starts very large. He drives away all other birds with the exception of female Mockingbirds that are potential mates for the season. Once the pair start to build a nest, the size of the territory defended from all birds will shrink from an acre or more down to 20 to 50' from the nest site although no other Mockingbirds will be tolerated within sight of the nestsite. You can try moving your feeder(s) and/or nestbox(s) to a place out-of-sight of the dominating male Mockingbird. I use annual vines on trellises to separate my yard. Last resort is active control. Those super-squirter water guns that all the kids had to have last year are great for harmlessly discouraging an aggressive bird from taking over. You don't even have to hit him more than once; the swoosh of water zinging past is enough to encourage him to move on. Note that once he's nesting, it's too late under current laws. You can't legally interfere with or harass a nesting native bird... but by the time they nest, the Mockers really aren't much of a bother. At my home, my resident male Mockingbird is going crazy trying to reclaim his territory. For the first time in my life, we have HUNDREDS of Goldfinches and House Finches along with our other feeder birds. Our Mocker will sit on top of his chosen perch--an 8' wooden 4x4 post--and try to chase any bird that comes near. His problem is that so many birds are coming to the six feeder stations plus suet feeders. While he chases 30 Goldfinches from one station, 25 more sneak in behind him to gobble some nyger at another pole. He sees them and goes to clear them out, leaving unprotected stations. He's frantic to clear out his territory and not very effective. He can't be everywhere at once. He's fun to watch even if he annoys the finches and sparrows. Oh, and he keeps the EUST out of our yard so he can't be all bad. Take care, R J 'Tree' Greenwood From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com] Recently we had discussion about Mockers harassing our birds in our backyards. Someone gave the advice of using some kind of squirt gun to scare them away. In reality, that is harassing a bird protected by law. It is against the law. We need to search for more suitable solutions that we can pass on to the general public that would not be going against the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. There does not seem to be an easy answer. Evelyn Cooper....Delhi, LA From: Chris&Crystal Hill [mailto:crystaljhill"at"msn.com] Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2005 7:33 PM Subject: Re: O/T Mockingbirds Not sure about the others here that posted, but the Mocker we had running off the other birds has calmed down quiet a bit. I only see him occasionally at the feeders now... Crystal Hill From: Keith & Sandy Kridler [mailto:txbluebirder"at"sbcglobal.net] Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2005 9:00 AM Subject: Birds annoying each other Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas I watched a Mockingbird KILL a gray squirrel last week! It was dive bombing the squirrel all the way across a wide open yard in front of our local church. The squirrel raced dodging this way and that with the mocker right on it's tail. In a panic the squirrel leaped out in the street heading for the safety of the trees on the other side....missed one oncoming car only to get smacked with one just before it made it to the other side. A half hour later the mocker was sitting above the dead squirrel watching intently from the safety of the tree limbs. EVERY time a car flew by the wind made the tail of the very dead squirrel flip over...EVERY time the tail flipped the mocker dove down off her perch and slapped that dead squirrel AGAIN! Mockingbirds defend a whole yard filled with berries and will vigorously attack flocks of robins, starlings and cedar waxwings protecting these fruits until birds become desperate for food. Thus saving these berries for a time when food really is getting short. Mockingbirds attack cats, dogs, crows, hawks, snakes and many other predators of birds driving them from their territory. These predators kill far more young bluebirds than the rare abandonment caused by the competition between a mockingbird and a bluebird. I have three nestboxes near a utility trailer sales parking
lot. Last year they had 8 "Goose Neck Trailers" lined
up on the lot. This is catty corner from a huge feed mill and
just down the street from Wal-Mart. It is VERY common for bluebirds
and Carolina Wrens to nest in the lower part of a "Goose
Neck" trailer hitch when the trailer is in someone's yard.
Out of the To me it would make sense that other species of birds would benefit by nesting close to a nesting Mockingbird since they will attempt to drive off every daytime predator! KK From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com] Here's my story. Ms. Mocker has dominated the front and side
yards of my house for three years. The Bluebirds could only
nest in the east nestbox which was way out on the edge of my
yard. However, last season, Mr. and Mrs. The off-springs were very aggressive too. I saw two of them team up and run a Cardinal out of the yard. Makes me happy to see some bluebird aggressiveness. Evelyn Cooper From: Chris&Crystal Hill [mailto:crystaljhill"at"msn.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2005 9:57 AM Subject: Re: Birds annoying each other The mocker we have in our yard I am not sure male or female, but lives in the brush at a fence line in the back of our yard. For the past 2 years we have noticed him/her always returning to the same spot in the evening and waking us with song in the Spring/Summer. This year the mocker was chasing the other birds from the feeders. But as in my earlier post that has all but stopped......Maybe he/she found a mate...... I do recall that last year when I fed the mealworms out of the dome style feeder a mocker sneaking some, maybe the same bird. I switched to the enclosed feeder this year. I have not noticed in the 2 spring/summers we have hosted cavity nesters any mockers bothering them. Crystal Hill From: Keith & Sandy Kridler [mailto:txbluebirder"at"sbcglobal.net] Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2005 10:06 AM Subject: mockingbirds and cedar waxwings Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas Shawn and I watched last night as a Mockingbird was trying to chase a small flock of Cedar Waxwings away from a Buford Holly tree. The mocker chased one of the waxwings around and around about an acre or two, they flew through tree tops and limbs and around bushes at breath taking speeds! How any birds can fly at top speed and dodge limbs and watch the attacking bird just a few feet behind them is amazing. We watched as cedar wax wings changed out feeding on the berry bush and then became the decoy while others in the flock fed on the berries and allowed themselves to be chased by this fighter plane of a mocker.... Anyway just a few minutes ago the mocker "Shot down" one
of the cedar waxwings and they crashed right on the edge of
my driveway. The battle shifted to deadly combat with beaks
and legs and wings flailing each other. My frantic running around spooked our beagle into rushing out to break up the bird fight....I ended up on the scene in time to hold the Cedar Waxwing during it's very last breaths. I never would have believed a mockingbird could or would be able to chase down, catch and then kill a cedar waxwing. The damage is very similar to what you see a House Sparrow do to a bluebird cornered in a nestbox. The battle could not have lasted more than 60 seconds. The mocker is guarding the holly tree again. Birds are singing their mating songs and the crows want their breakfast. I wonder what humans will do to each other if they ever think they are about to run out of food or fuel...KK From: Chris&Crystal Hill [mailto:crystaljhill"at"msn.com] Okay I have been complaining I have 3 empty boxes and no birds really checking them. I also have been complaining that a Mocker has tried to get in the enclosed feeder and runs the birds off from the feeder. From: Linda Gordon [mailto:lmgordon"at"bellsouth.net] Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2005 3:36 PM Subject: Re: Mockingbird Problem Need Help Hi Crystal, From: Kathy Johnson [mailto:krj"at"patmedia.net] Sent: Saturday, April 02, 2005 8:02 PM Subject: Re: Mockingbird Problem Need Help I have the same problem. Everytime some blues come to check out my I put up other bird feeders and the goldfinches and juncos have learned Kathy Johnson From: eindians [mailto:eindians"at"zoominternet.net] Linda,Crystal,etc. From: Chris&Crystal Hill [mailto:crystaljhill "at"msn.com] Well that mocker is still around but now leaving the boxes and feeders alone.................nature is amazing........... From: Trish Culpepper [mailto:trishkcully"at"earthlink.net] Trish - Frankston, TX From: Don Edwards [mailto:pinecrestfarm"at"earthlink.net] Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 9:30 PM Subject: Re: New Bluebird Family Possibly... Yes, Trish, Mockingbirds do bother nesting bluebirds. I had one pester a bluebird with young so much that the blues abandoned their babies. I was new as a bluebird monitor and never would have thought that they would abandon young but they did. They don't want the nest, they want the whole territory! Ruth Edwards. Westport, MA From: bookfanaticef-bluebird"at"yahoo.com [mailto:bookfanaticef-bluebird"at"yahoo.com] I'm not sure if mockingbirds would bother the bluebird nest/eggs, as I don't know that they recognize cavities/nest boxes as nests, though if they do, they might try to eat the eggs. They almost certainly would see the bluebirds as encroaching on their territory, and if they are aggressive defenders, they might chase off the bluebirds, but maybe not. A lot would probably depend on how far away from the boxes the mockers have their nest. It helps that the two species aren't competing for the same nest space--if the mockingbirds were cavity-nesters, things might be more intense. From: Autumn L. Kruer [mailto:autumnk"at"iglou.com] I have a resident mockingbird and never have trouble with it and the blues. They seem to be comfortable neighbors, with the mockingbird only attempting to run out “new birds.” One thing I really like about having a mockingbird around – I know what else is around. Right now, the mocker is singing “the bluebird song.” I know when it’s him because he sings it much louder and robustly than the warbling little bluebird does. If an English sparrow is hanging around, then the mocker lets me know, as well as when the redtail hawk comes back, etc. Sometimes it cracks me up. I’ve also noticed Starlings will mimic redtail hawks. Autumn From: Lana Hunt [mailto:lanahunt"at"kcp.uky.edu] Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 10:17 AM Subject: RE: New Bluebird Family Possibly... Oh no Evelyn, I have mocking birds in my yard also. One was even sitting From: Trish Culpepper [mailto:trishkcully"at"earthlink.net] Thanks for the idea, Paula! I hadn't thought of it. I'll be sure to give an update. Thanks, also, to those of you who mentioned the "double housing" idea on the PM houses. That makes good sense, allowing the PMs more room to escape a predator. From: Trish Culpepper [mailto:trishkcully"at"earthlink.net] Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 11:37 AM Subject: Re: New Bluebird Family Possibly... Lana....I could never chase off all the mockingbirds around our property. From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com] Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 12:17 PM Subject: RE: New Bluebird Family Possibly... I really hope your luck holds with no conflict with the other birds especially that you have so many Mockers. Most of the stories and calls for help I hear and get is that the Mocker is dominant and running off their birds. There is more than one for sure at my place as my yard and house is surrounded by woods. I just came in from going to the mailbox and could hear one singing so loud on the outer edge of the yard. Yesterday, I ran the water hose down the driveway for the birds to bathe in the puddles. I looked out and two juvenile Bluebirds were on one end of the puddles which ran about 30 ft. A Mocker landed on the other end and was not happy to bathe down there and drink, it had to come up to the other end and run the juveniles off. In July and August when it is so terribly hot and I run the water for them, larger birds such as Blue Jays, Northern Flickers, Red Bellied Woodpeckers, Robins all come and bathe. They seem to congregate on one end and the smaller birds which are very large in number get on the other end. The Mocker is not in this puddle party. Guess they are out numbered. Evelyn Cooper From: roy pischer [mailto:tlp4456"at"msn.com] A pair of mockingbirds nested in the forsythia bush in my backyard, and last Wednesday, the babies hatched. I've read and witnessed how territorial mockingbirds are, but this pair is terrorizing the pair of bluebirds that have nested in my backyard nest box! The male mockingbird even chased the male bluebird off his clothesline pole perch, that is just 4 feet from the bluebird nest box! I have moved the mealworm feeders completely out of the backyard (about 45 feet away from original location), but is there anything else I can do? From: Kate Arnold [mailto:koscharn"at"cox.net] Sent: Sunday, July 03, 2005 1:01 PM Subject: RE: Territorial Mockingbirds Your mealworm feeder may be a good source of food, but even in the wild, good sources disappear quickly and birds have to look somewhere else to find a meal. At this time of year, insects are very plentiful in most locations. If the mealworm feeder is only 45 feet away from its original location, it really isn’t far enough to make much difference. Bluebirds, mockingbirds and others fly hundreds of feet routinely. Remember that a “typical” I have mockingbirds here, too, and they will occasionally sit on a nestbox, then they move on and everything is fine. We bluebirders see every little squabble as a major problem, but these birds have evolved with each other, and inter- and intra-species competition is normal. One of the problems with mealworm feeders is that they draw all kinds of birds. Making birds find their own food sources means they may spread out a little more. Some people put out only a few mealworms as a treat but don’t leave them out all the time to tempt other birds. Kate Arnold From: mrtony8 [mailto:philip.berry"at"mchsi.com] Mockers will do this. You should remove the mealie feeder and it should eliminate the problem. My mockers fight the blues constantly, so I feed mealies only when the mockers are busy elsewhere. But their relationship is pretty good in that the mockers actually drive off HOSP when they come near the box. From: <cflindberg"at"bellsouth.net> To: <bluebird-l"at"cornell.edu> Sent: Thursday, November 24, 2005 7:33 AM Subject: Mockingbird I'm having problems with mockingbirds chasing bluebirds from feeders. I have four feeders plus thistle feeder & mealworm/ banqet feeder. Mockingbird never visits feeders, always goes to banquet feeder. Would it help if I placed another feeder a distance away from the others? Any suggestions? Thanks.
Keith Kridler Mt. Pleasant, Texas It does not matter that there are 30 pounds of berries in that holly tree and the mockingbird will only need a few pounds for the whole winter they DO NOT want to share a single berry with any other species! They will fly to the attack any time they feel their territory has been invaded. Since you have the perfect habitat even if your mocker gets nailed by a sharp shin hawk another one will move in to claim the territory in just a matter of days. All because there is food, water and shelter that fits their needs. Same goes for the dominant hummingbird at a single feeder. You simply need to provide enough berry producing bushes and trees far enough apart to make it impossible for the mocker to protect all of them. Instead of one feeder with peanut butter/lard mixes or raisins/dried fruits you need several in different areas out of sight of one another. Instead of one or two nestboxes you need at least ten scattered around your city block:-)) Spend a little time watching the mocker and you will see it guarding a fairly large triangle, normally three berry producing trees or bushes and guarding everything in the middle. These birds don't honor fences and your whole yard might be it's territory. I have seen one mockingbird trying to defend more than 300 feet of fence line that was a smorgasbord of invasive fruit and berry vines, shrubs and trees. It would spend the entire day patrolling up and down the line. Singing away from the tree tops when no birds were near but dashing off at the mere sight of an intruder, harassing them no matter how large they were until they left the mockers territory. KK From: stan blaylock [mailto:birdwatcher103"at"bellsouth.net] Mocking birds are chasing Matt & Katy away from the nest box. Can I dispatch them with my air rifle.... or do I need to do something else? Stan Blaylock From: lviolett [mailto:lviolett"at"earthlink.net] Mockers are great birds. Since they are native, they are legally protected (you can't shoot them or molest them in any way). From: Bet Zimmerman [mailto:ezdz"at"charter.net] Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 12:53 PM Subject: Mockingbirds and mealworm feeders Stan wrote: Mocking birds are chasing Matt & Katy away from the nest box. Can I dispatch them with my air rifle.... or do I need to do something else? Stan - the downside of putting out a lot of mealworms is attracting other birds that also relish these treats. As Linda indicated, it is illegal to harm native birds without a permit (which you would never get under these circumstances. It's hard enough to get permits to do research!) A few - Only offer enough mealworms that the bluebirds will eat at one visit (10-15 per bird). Train them to come to a whistle or other signal (mine show up when the screen door bangs open) as soon as you put out the worms. You can do this by pairing the signal with filling the feeder. Other birds that enjoy mealworms include tufted titmice, carolina wrens, nuthatches, chickadees, red bellied woodpeckers and bluejays. I made the mistake one year of "training" robins to go to the feeder. From: rob barron [mailto:rebel1956"at"comcast.net] Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 1:29 PM Subject: RE: Mockingbirds and mealworm feeders I think Carolina wrens are more easily trained than Eastern Bluebirds. I put out 15 mealworms or wax worms and the Carolina wrens eat them all in 5 minutes. I've started putting mealworms in the claimed but still empty BB nest box. I kind of enjoy seeing them all eat mealworms and they aren't that expensive, so I put up another mealworm feeder on the other side of the house. Rob Barron From: Sara Ann [mailto:sawright"at"direcway.com] Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 5:57 PM Subject: Re: Mocking birds Years ago, when we were in town, we had a mockingbird who spent his days on top of the basketball goal, surveying his domain. One day, I heard all sorts of 'peeps' and went out to find some fledgling sparrows under a small tree. Mama sparrow flew back and forth all day, trying to keep everyone fed, scolding any who tried to explore. When Mama sparrow would leave, the mockingbird would yell at any baby that ventured away, and if one went too far astray, 'uncle' would fly off to find Mama. She'd come tearing around the corner of the house, yelling her head off at her babies, while 'uncle' would return to his perch atop the basketball goal. This went on all day. I don't know who was more tired by nightfall, the sparrow or the mockingbird! From: mrtony8 [mailto:philip.berry"at"mchsi.com] Sent: Wednesday, March 08, 2006 7:10 PM Subject: Re: Mockingbirds and mealworm feeders the problem with a signal is that mockers can hear too. mine come From: Trish Culpepper [mailto:trishkcully"at"earthlink.net] Trish Culpepper - Frankston, TX From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com] Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2006 9:31 PM Subject: Re: Getting harrassed by a mocker Rob wrote: > I love all the Mimidae family.I think they are some of the prettiest
However, this very aggressive male and his offsprings changed the picture. I really get a charge out of about 5 Bluebirds running 3 Mockingbirds from the yard. Back to the singing. Last year was an upsetting surprise for Ms. Mocker when Pa Blue chased her out of the yard. She would sit in the tree on the edge of the yard and sing to the top of her voice a "bluebird song" and it was really pitiful. She missed some notes and Bluebirds don't sing that LOUD. I heard her again this year and can tell it is no Bluebird singing. I am so glad that my Bluebirds are aggressive as I now have two pair nesting in my yard. Evelyn From: teen [mailto:foxfire.1"at"comcast.net] Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2006 2:05 PM Subject: Mockingbirds Good Afternoon Everyone, This afternoon I had 3 Mockingbirds that attacked my Bluebirds and chased them away from the nesting house. First they attacked the female and she flew away and as the male was trying to defend her they attacked him. What does one do about that ? Still being the *new kid on the block* I realize I have much to learn but does every bird attack the BB's ? Please advise me here... On the brighter side of life, I do not have anything like the number of Sparrows that I had when I first came here, thanks to the help of a friend and also a husband that is a sharp shooter with a pellet rifle. I have also stopped filling the feeders and now feed the Cardinals and Mourning Doves on the ground. I would also like to report that my Hummingbird population has grown so much that counting them is out of the question. I have so enjoyed their chatter and it is endless. Since giving my heart to the beautiful Bluebird I now devote as much time as I can building houses. You all have a good afternoon and please let me know what to do about the Mockingbirds. Thanks, Teen From: denisefarmer"at"comcast.net [mailto:denisefarmer"at"comcast.net] Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2006 4:25 PM Subject: RE: Mockingbirds Teen, Not sure what you can do about the Mocking birds. My resident Mocking Bird does not see to attack or bother any of my other birds nor do my Blue Jays. Denise
Teen, From: owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu [mailto:owner-BLUEBIRD-L"at"cornell.edu] On Behalf Of Perez Veronica I see the mockers territorial only when they have their young close by. I actually consider them part of my flock since they don't seem to bother the birds at my other feeders. They are 'mealie' hogs though. I'll even have a mocker come up to the deck door to let me know that it's past their feeding time or if there was not enough mealies set out for them (LOL) . They tried to run out a robin who was sharing their mealies..but the robin wisened up and does a sneak attack under the bushes to get to the mealies . I do intervene sometimes though and take away the mealworm feeder if I see overly aggressive behavior from them. Subject: RE: Mockingbirds From: <denisefarmer"at"comcast.net> Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2006 19:51:08 -0400 Personally I don't think there is a reason to stop feeding once you get BB's or set out your boxes. I think they can coexist very well, but I could be wrong. I will feed sunflower and peanuts forever and hope if I am lucky enough to get BB's that I can feed them suet and Mealies. Does anyone else that has BB's feed other birds and if so does this cause the BB's to go away? Or did you have BB's and they left due to feeding? Denise ubject: EABL nestings and feeders Denise and all, I have had Eastern Bluebirds nesting in a box in my back yard for years. Mary Roen, River Falls, WI Subject: RE: Mockingbirds You're probably right ,Denise. I will still feed the seed eaters I think. But with the mealies I might try to experiment with that. The mocker might harrass the bluebirds even if I set out mealies for them in an enclosed feeder and if I'm trying to attract my first nesting I would like to avoid a conflict like that. From: Duane Rice [mailto:drbirdsong4"at"hotmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2006 11:15 AM Subject: RE: Mockingbirds Ya'll, From: Wendell Long [mailto:mrsimple33"at"go-concepts.com]
Sent: Wednesday, March 07, 2007 10:43 AM Subject: Photo link Friends,
I have been off list for awhile. My backyard has a new visitor(Mockingbird) and in the last few days he thinks he owns all the yard and has discouraged the bluebirds from hanging around. Anyone know how to teach them to get along? They were ok for a few days. Thanks. Happy bluebird season to all. Here is a link to my photos if you care to review. http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v283/MrSimple/Wendell%20Long%20Photos/ Wendell Long Waynesville, OH. From: Kathleen Arnold [mailto:koscharn"at"suddenlink.net]
Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2007 1:11 AM Subject: RE:Mockingbirds Occasionally a mockingbird will sit on top of a nestbox, but it stays only briefly. Otherwise, my mockingbirds spend more time harassing each other than bothering any other birds. Very possibly yours will learn to tolerate each other given a little time. Kate Arnold, Paris, Texas From: Wendell Long [mailto:mrsimple33"at"go-concepts.com] Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2007 2:36 PM Subject: Mocking |
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