Mocking bird contest

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~Ray~Gingerich
Posts: 2122
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:24 pm
Location: Delaware/Dover

I had 3 mocking birds having some sort of stare down contest. They did this for a while then flew around chasing each other.

Image

Notice the oyster shells in the driveway. Oyster shell on the outside edges along with some nesting materials and a band of chick grit in the middle.
~Ray~ Gingerich
1999 1pair, 2006 2 pair, 2008 2 pair,
2009 23 pair, 2010 39 pair, 2011 67 pair,
2012 115 pair, 2013 160 pair,
2014 152 pair, 2015 174 pair, 2016 178 pair
2017 187 pair, 2018 200 pair, 2019 171pair
2020 233 pair
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Matt F.
Posts: 3978
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 9:48 am
Location: Houston, TX

Funny photo Ray.
That one on the left looks like a loose cannon!
Image
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lcline85
Posts: 192
Joined: Tue Mar 20, 2012 3:22 pm
Location: Stuarts Draft, VA

haha. I love when my mockingbirds raise their wings up...take a step...raise their wings up...repeat for about 10 minutes.
2nd Year trying to attract martins! Wish me luck!
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MandyinMO
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed May 09, 2012 3:11 pm
Location: Lake St. Louis, MO

I saw 2 mockingbirds doing this on my fence last year. Only they were switching perching positions during the stare down...looked like they were doing some kind of dance. My resident mockingbird does a spot on impression of a martin, gets me every time. I love how they don't put up with sh*t from anyone or anything. This past winter I had to dedicate one of my suet feeders for just the mockingbird but I didn't mind because it chased every single starling out of my yard and left the other birds alone.
2010 - Put up housing late in season & had visitors
2011 - 2 Nesting Pair (1 successful)
2012 - 1 ASY pair, 5 babies
2013 - 2 ASY pair, 11 babies
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Ron Shaffer
Posts: 194
Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2004 9:33 am
Location: Ohio/Beverly

Love my mockers for their constant harassment of what doesn't 'belong' in my yard, whether it be a starling, a sparrow, or a stray cat! :lol:
SEAL THE BORDERS NOW!!
http://www.numbersusa.com

'04 - 1 pair
'05 - 2 pair
'06 - 7 pair
'07 - 10 pair
'08 - 23 pair
'09 - 43 pair
'10 - 45 pair
'11 - 39 pair
'12 - 61 pair
'13 - 81 pair
'14 - 62 pair
'15 - 59 pair
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~Ray~Gingerich
Posts: 2122
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:24 pm
Location: Delaware/Dover

Yesterday a white butterfly or moth fluttered past my martin houses, I thought one of my martins would dive down and snap it up but that didn't happen, a mocking bird flew over, caught it then dropped it on the pavement and just left it lay. I wonder why it did that?
~Ray~ Gingerich
1999 1pair, 2006 2 pair, 2008 2 pair,
2009 23 pair, 2010 39 pair, 2011 67 pair,
2012 115 pair, 2013 160 pair,
2014 152 pair, 2015 174 pair, 2016 178 pair
2017 187 pair, 2018 200 pair, 2019 171pair
2020 233 pair
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lcline85
Posts: 192
Joined: Tue Mar 20, 2012 3:22 pm
Location: Stuarts Draft, VA

It didn't want to eat the butterfly... It just wanted to destroy it for being in its territory! haha
2nd Year trying to attract martins! Wish me luck!
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DebA
Posts: 1941
Joined: Tue May 04, 2010 7:43 am
Location: Pratt County/Kansas
Martin Colony History: Start 2009 with one pair. Upgraded from S&K houses to two Trendsetter 12's with gourds beneath in 2013. I have experienced job, pet, and parental losses since '13. The Purple Martins lift my spirits and remind me how life continues forward by flying their little selves from Brazil back to my yard. As one forum person once told me, chin up DebA, look at the martins. Danger all around but yet they soar in the sky without a care in the world.

This is the first year for us to experience Mocking birds. I've seen them perching high up like they do but while hunting insects this one will land in close proximity to me on low power lines between our barns. It seems to know I mean it no harm. All this while my husband was shooting sparrows and a starling. I love their full rich tone as they switch up their melodies. Too cool.
Deb
PMCA MEMBER
Pratt County, Kansas
2016 34 PAIR
2015 27 PAIR
2014 23 PAIR
2013 13 PAIR
2012 6 PAIR
2011 4 PAIR
2010 2 PAIR
2009 1 PAIR
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KathyF
Posts: 3522
Joined: Thu May 24, 2007 1:57 pm
Location: Missouri/Licking
Martin Colony History: Colony started - 2007 with one pair
As of 2018 - 84 cavities offered, max # of pairs hosted - 82.

Mocking birds are one of my favorites, along with the brown thrashers. Except when they get in the large oak tree on the side of my house and start singing at 5:00 A.M. :roll:

And my particular mocker needs to learn that it is NOT a good idea to imitate a HOSP. No, no, no!!!
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
2023 - 82 pair
2022 - 80 pair
2021 - 75 pair
2020 - 78 pair
2019 - 80 pair
http://kathyfreeze.blogspot.com
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hardyfarm
Posts: 64
Joined: Tue Mar 20, 2012 10:01 am
Location: North Carolina/Seven Springs

I love the photo and my mocking birds too. One of ours loves to imitate a hawk for some reason. :roll:
Never Give Up!
2012 First Year 1 SY pair 7 fledged, 2013 1 SY pair 1 ASY pair 4 fledged, 2014 1 SY pair 2 ASY pair 10 fledged
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MandyinMO
Posts: 22
Joined: Wed May 09, 2012 3:11 pm
Location: Lake St. Louis, MO

And my particular mocker needs to learn that it is NOT a good idea to imitate a HOSP. No, no, no!!!
Too funny, Kathy! :grin:
2010 - Put up housing late in season & had visitors
2011 - 2 Nesting Pair (1 successful)
2012 - 1 ASY pair, 5 babies
2013 - 2 ASY pair, 11 babies
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