Birdsong: I can certainly understand why you feel the way you do. In fact, I agree with your views 100%. I am saddened that we are all in the position of losing our tempers because this issue is so near and dear to our hearts, and we always feel that we are losing the battle (especially when facing the approaching season of Chemlawn ads). I think I pointed out to Dil in one post why we all feel as strongly as we do: . . . I have often seen posts on this board seeking information on how to lure and feed deer, raccoons, etc. only to later see the same people here seeking a solution when the natural reaction has created a nuisance. . . . so you can see why people develop strong opinions about this issue. However, after spending a couple of years reading, I believe that we all have a unique opportunity here. This kind of board gives us the opportunity to debate these ideas online for many people to read. I like to think that there are other people out there, like Dil (and probably each one of us at one time or another), who are similarly fertile ground. I think that when we do lose our tempers and get sharper than we want to, our argument loses power. I'm as guilty as anyone of losing my temper in this thread, but the amazing thing about Dil is that he hung in there. I personally think that takes a pretty big person . . . not to mention that Dil has promised to try to explain his new understanding to his neighbors. He won't win them all over, but he may convince a few. What more can we ask for? Afterall, what we are asking for is a paradigm shift. Our culture values making money and personal enjoyment above and beyond all else. So, we are asking for deeply-rooted cultural ideals to change. That won't happen overnight. Maybe I'm being way too optimistic, but I think if people did understand the common sense of it, some of them wouldn't do the things they do. The only way to hope to change people's opinions is to debate them respectfully. So, while I understand where your anger comes from, I hope you will rethink your approach. You obviously understand the issue clearly and have some valuable insight to add.

I've been fortunate enough to have a pair of mockingbirds in my backyard year around for several years. They are very protective of their territory, especially to other mockingbirds. Every year, they raise two or three offspring, but run them off soon after they fledge. The only other birds they seem to tolerate are a pair of white wing doves that nest in a youpon holly tree. Maybe because the doves don't compete for the same food source. They go nuts in the spring when the flocks of Cedar Waxwings come through and strip off the remaining winter youpon holly berries, which is the mockingbirds main food source in winter. They are overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of Waxwings, but just complain loudly. The most interesting thing is they mate for life, but go through a re-bonding ritual every spring. They face each other on the ground about 2 feet apart, and the male will hop forward and place a youpon berry on the ground, then hop back. The female then hops forward, picks up the berry and hops back. They do this several times a day until they finally go off and build a new nest and lay eggs.

DON"T MAKE MISTAKE AS I DID------I became very intrigued with Baby Mockingbird nest in our backyard and watched from living room daily while Mom & Dad Mockingbird cared for the little ones until one morning when I got up, three of the babies were out of the nest and on the ground. It had rained hard that night and the nest had holes in the bottom they had fell thru. The babies were definitely not ready for fledgling, so I took a funnel and put nest inside funnel and tied it back in same place nest was in the tree. The Mom and Dad were fine with new nest and continued feeding babies fine. About a week later I found nest empty again and quick search found all the babies under shrubs within few yards of nesting tree. Since they barely had feathers I picked them up and placed them back into the nest again as I thought they too young to enter fledging routine yet,, but I was obviously wrong. After putting babies back in nest, I witnessed the Parents flying into nesting tree with worm in mouth but only teasing the hungry babies with food refusing to feed them until they jumped out again,,,, so obviously it was fledgling time!!! Now I must admit horrible mistake I made in hopes of keeping anyone else from making same mistake I did out of trying to help. One of the fledgling appeared to be the runt and had less feathers than the others. Out of fear this fledgling might be caught to easily by a predator, I placed it in small clothes basket under the bush where the Mom and Dad had been feeding it (I had been viewing it from my living room). On the next feeding trip, One of the parents viewed the baby in the basket for quite a little while as the fledgling chirped and tried to get out of basket. All of a sudden, the parent swopped into basket, quickly killed baby by pecking in with Death blow in the Chest and then flew off while I had to watch the little Fledgling Die. The parents are continuing to feed the other 3 Fledglings as normal,,, but I learned sad lesson----Obviously if Fledgling is captured, parents will kill it so don't try to help the Babes by putting in basket or cage. You can help keep predators away, but the parents want fledglings to learn quickly the way they teach them-----I guess that is just the way nature intended it to be!!??

Pondraider- you've captured it perfectly! I don't believe I've red anything written so apt for this "genious" bird. One of my favorite birds for sure. I enjoyed your article. Thank you so much.