There have always been mockingbirds in our neighborhood. In past years, they have staked out vantage points in my neighbor’s yard. Occasionally, they would come to my yard to drink from the birdbath, but mostly they were my neighbor’s mockingbirds. But not this year. For the first time, a dominant mockingbird has claimed my back yard as his turf and woe be to the other mockingbirds who try to intrude. There have been some feathers flying.
I’m not sure why this year my resident mockingbird has staked out claims, but I suspect it’s because I have been hanging C & S Suet Bars and the mockingbirds love them. It’s a quick, easy snack – just fly in, peck off some high protein and tasty suet, then sit on a high branch and dare another mockingbird to do the same. Funny, but birds don’t seem to mind if other birds eat the suet, just birds of their own species.
Other enticing amenities in our backyard are multiple birdbaths and the mockingbirds frequently take advantage. All birds love and need baths. It’s their way of grooming and keeping their feathers in tip top shape. Bird baths, I believe, attract more birds that do feeders. Whatever, the reason, I’m happy that one mockingbird finally calls my yard his own.
