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Mockingbird Woes
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Posted by blumz (My Page) on Tue, May 5, 09 at 10:48
| I have always loved having a mockingbird visiting my yard, and I've never had problems with them. However, now I have one that is guarding the meal worm feeder and gobbles up all of them before the blues can get to them.
The blue babies fledged about a week and a half ago, but the parents still come back for the mealies and to check out the box. I was thinking that they'd be building a new nest for another brood soon, but I'm not sure they will now. The Mocker sits on my fence guarding the backyard, and even sits on the bluebird house. He checks the feeder often.
I put out the wormies early this morning, and the blues were watching me do it from the rooftop. Before they could get to them the mocker got them first. So I put out more, but same story. Even if the blues decide to build somewhere else, I still enjoy feeding them and have a large supply of the meal worms on hand. I guess I will be feeding mockingbirds instead ... right? Any suggestions? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Mockingbird Woes
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| I have the same problem with two mockers who love chasing off other birds. You need to get a special mealworm feeder. Mine came from the Bluebird Nut Cafe (I think)..it's called the deluxe mealworm feeder, round, cage style with a top, and a blue dish in the middle. Mockers and other large birds cannot enter, but the smaller birds can. It may take a few days or perhaps a week, but the blues will figure it out! The feeder is a little pricey, but well worth it. Mockers are notorious for being very territorial, especially near their food sources. My five baby blues fledged several days ago, but before that, those two mockers were driving Mama and Daddy blue nuts! Other than the mealworm feeder, the only other solution I can think of would be to quit putting out the mealies for awhile in hopes the mockers will move on. I don't have a clue whether that would work! Donna |
RE: Mockingbird Woes
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| Thanks for the idea, Donna. I truly love the mockingbirds. And this couple has been here a lot longer than the blues have, and have never been a problem. Everywhere I've lived I always only had one or two and they would keep me entertained with their lovely songs. They've never bothered the blues. But it's pretty obvious that this one has claimed my backyard because it knows there are 'goodies' here. The mocker babies hopped around in my backyard until they got strong enough to fly off, and they occasionally visit my wax myrtles. I love their little chirps. I really wouldn't mind feeding the mockers too, if they wouldn't be so greedy. I'm afraid the blues will not build here again because of their aggression. I'll check out the website you suggested. |
RE: Mockingbird Woes
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The numerous mockingbirds around here are driving me nuts. They "claim" the bluebird feeders, even if they can not fit through the openings, and will not allow the blues to eat. I didn't want to stop placing suet and mealworms out. We have had a very wet spring and a total of 10 hungry baby blues. Maybe there is adequate food without the mealworms and suet, I just didn't want to have to worry about it. The only thing that has worked for me is to actually guard the feeders and keep the mockingbirds away. Sometimes I wait somewhere near the feeder (usually about 10-15 feet away) and sometimes I use a slingshot from inside my office window. The blues learned very quickly that my "antics" were not directed at them. They land in a branch overhead, wait for me to run off the mockingbirds, and then go into the feeder without hesitation. This is our routine early morning and early evening. If I'm lucky, on occasion, we get a mid-day feeding/guarding time.
Good luck with finding a solution that works for you. |
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