I too was attacked repeatedly by a mockingbird while walking my dog in Amityville. It swooped over my head and hovered before me like a day bat. I didn't know what type of bird it was. Tonight it sang away - and I realized it was my attacker. I only recently read the book T K A M and thought about Bo Radley, who mostly came out at night - and how they hunted down poor Tom Robinson above the jail at night.

Lisa is correct! I tried CD's on string and ladies hose over the tomatoes. Neither stopped the mocking birds, but plastic grocery bags did the trick. Just make sure you leave a large opening for it to breath or they will sweat. Not sure what that might do to the tomato. We have a net over my wifes tomatoes, but it is lot more aggrevation than the bags IMHO bernie

Yes, mockingbrds will protect their nest with all they've got..they will try to keep everything and everybody away, a cat, even a hawk will have a hard time with one..the nest is low to the ground usually, takes about 2 weeks for eggs to hatch and another 2 for fledgling, then couple of days till they are able to live without mama bird.. I've had several nests in my yard..they harass everyone, including the dogs..we've learned to live together... I hope to live a very long time..so I can change for the short time they are in my yard..it's easier on my conscience..however..I understand how frustrating these birds can be..

I have the blue-domed feeder from Duncraft and it works great. My Blues were used to a little cup that I had nailed to a tree stake, but then a very FAT Robin found it. So I bought the dome version and left the top off of it for several days while the Blues got used to the new container. The I put the dome on in it's highest position (the Robin could still get in during this "training" period). After about three more days, I lowered it to its lowest setting and then only the Blues could fit. The great thing about this feeder is that it can be hung or mounted on a pole - it has a screw-in bottom that is just the same size as a standard broom handle. I purchased a broom handle from the hardware store, gorilla glued the feeder in place for good measure, and then simply pushed the handle about 5 inches into the ground. No fuss, no muss and now only my blues can get the mealies...