What a nice surprise! Make pictures for us :)

Here's the follow-up... All the chicks left the nest yesterday, on Mother's Day. I could hear them cheeping in the bushes and watched both parents bring them food, but I couldn't get a good photo. This morning I kept an eye out for them as I walked through the garden. I spotted this little guy sitting on the ground near HEARTS OF FIRE - He froze for a close-up shot - The parents sat in the tree above and squawked at me the whole time I photographed the chick. I can hear the other babies chirping in the brush, but they mostly stay well hidden. They can flutter short distances, but can't fly very well yet. All appear healthy and very well fed. The parents are looking thin and ragged. It's a tough job! Kathy

Great sighting, Happygirl! Yes, it is sad to see the mockers lose their babies, but take heart in that they raise 4 or 5 clutches a year, and if ALL of them survived, we'd be inundated with mockingbirds. It IS nature at work, and awesome to watch. Sometimes it is hard not to intervene, I know, but in the grand scheme of things, it's better not to. GHO's don't usually rob nests, I don't think, so I'm wondering if there might be a scarcity of rats or rabbits right now, for some reason. Perhaps the drought has reduced the numbers of their more typical prety somewhat. Interesting! Or perhaps they are just opportunists, and saw a chance for an easier meal. Marcia

That's great! Any updates? My cardinal and robin chicks have fledged; I'm feeding grapes to both families and peanuts as well to the cardinals. My catbird has new babies; waiting to see when they'll fledge... they all simply LOVE grapes I think because they're soft and watery for the babies to eat.