I Love Mockingbirds

I love Mockingbirds.  Even when they're having a bad hair feather day.

"Every day can't be a GOOD hair day!"
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"You want WHAT?!!!"  This is me sometimes :)
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"If I stay low and quiet, maybe no one else will notice my fly-away hairs"
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I've learned to listen to and observe Mockingbirds.  I've learned their danger calls and when I hear them I check out what's going on...often they'll fuss when there's another animal in the yard, but more importantly, they get really loud when a large bird, like a hawk, is around.  I've watched them group up and chase hawks and falcons away.  

Mockingbirds are courageous protectors of their territory, 

which benefits all the other small birds around here.  

Mockingbirds sometimes get a bad rap.   They don't carry that reputation at our house. We love to hear them sing, watch them eat on the various fruit we give them, stand guard on the fences and power lines and hop across the yard in search of insects.  It's also been a great pleasure to observe them care for their offspring this year.  Indeed, they are some of my favorite birds :)