Cora, Evil bush! We popped many a soccer ball on those thorns when I was a kid, and it is just murder to trim them. The thorns raise a welt on me, some sort of allergy. But Katkin, I think you're right about Brazilian pepper. Seems I've read somewhere that birds get drunk on it too. It's really bad stuff. And Marilyn, if your orange friends look kind of like Baltimore Orioles, google spot-breasted oriole. They're not native, were introduced, probably by Mexican farm workers who loved to have them as pets because of their pretty song. They went feral in South Florida and were thought to be wiped out in Hurricane Andrew. They appear to be coming back just recently and a friend of mine who is a birder suspects that their range is farther north than birders originally thought, simply because they rather secretly survived Andrew, when birders thought they had completely disappeared. So you might have them up in Stuart. I'd prefer natives, but these don't seem to be terribly harmful like some exotics we get. And they sure are pretty. I haven't seen my pair yet this year, but they are so cute. They're very clearly a pair, talking back and forth to each other as they flit around the yard. Male and female look pretty much identical to my untrained eye, but he talks a lot more than she does. Been gardening all day long. Finally put in a white marsh grapefruit - found a little one reasonably priced at HD. And I fussed over tomatoes for awhile this morning. Gosh it's nice out! enjoy everyone susannah

I spent a lot of time at the hospital... go outside daily and stand under different trees, watch the comings and going ons. There was a mocking bird there that would suddenly bounce off my shoulder. I'd go away and come back couple months later.. same routine. Mostly it would try to chase me off, no-luck - I stand my ground. Occasionally it would hit on a woman in high heels... funny watching them try to run on a red brick roadway to get away.

I have a pair of bluebirds trying to nest in our new (sparrow resistant house)--that's a joke--finally had to open up a space for the sparrows so they would leave the bluebird house along. Real problem is the young Mockingbird which we have fed throughout the winter with chopped up grapes (loves them) and he is one territorial monster! I moved his grapes further down the yard away from the bluebird house and it only took him 30 minutes to find it and gobble down everything he can get and not let one other bird in there--plan is to move it to the front of the house and stop. Actually, he should be hunting food for himself, but I guess we spoiled him. His parents certainly were a lot more tolerant of other birds--but he is a real stinker. The bluebirds like the house and are trying to nest and yet I saw the mocking bird land right in between both of them and just dare them to live there--at which time I interceded, but won't do that again. They have come back again since that episode--so I feel they will nest there--in between the thunderstorms, hail and tornado warnings. And your advice has been very helpful--last year was my first year for blues in the box, although blues do come to my yard and bathe and show me their offspring, but my first box experience ended in blowflies--cried for a long, long time--felt very guilty and will not let that ever happen again. Wish me luck as the bluebirds just make me so happy and thank you vonyon for sharing your experience with the mockers so I can let nature take its course.

If the bird is just a little larger than a dove, its probably more likely a sharp-shinned hawk. Coopers are usually considerably larger than doves. Richard