Wood Thrush Notes: Our Big Sale & Mockingbirds

Sale Begins Tomorrow

A reminder that tomorrow, Sat. 11th we are beginning a week long sale on all things bird feeding related. Prices on ALL birdfeeders, iron poles, hooks, and deck mount arms, baffles, weather guards, and seed and suet will be reduced. Get ready for the Great Backyard Bird Count which begins Feb. 17th. Visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website allaboutbirdes.org for more information.

Mockingbirds being Mockingbirds

Every early February we encounter several concerned customers that claim they do not have any birds coming to their feeders. “They’ve disappeared in the last week or so”. We usually ask some standard questions that may give us some clues as to the possible reason. Then it occurs to us that the month of February is typically when our state bird, the Northern Mockingbird, begins expressing its territorial nature with much more exuberance. Mockingbirds begin establishing boundaries relative to an intended nest sight much earlier than most songbirds and if any birdfeeders are in that territory they will swoop in and chase off all intruders. They have no interest in the seed in the feeder but will defend with vigor the area the feeder is in. Mockingbirds, nor any birds, possess the trait of being mean. They just have varying degrees of territorial defense and posturing. The Mockingbirds’ is high and with each day spring gets closer its amplified. The only solution to continue feeding your birds is to spread your feeders out enough that the Mockingbird cannot effectively patrol them. In time this heightened behavior will pass and there will be relative peace in your yard again. Once nesting responsibilities commence they generally do not have time for constant patrolling. You still may see an occasional act of aggression, though. Be patient and understand it’s just a Mockingbird doing what it knows to do.

Northern Mockingbird

Wood Thrush Notes January 29th

Update on Live Mealworms

Good news. We now have live mealworms back in stock and should be seeing a consistent supply from our normal distributor again.

Recent Interesting Bird Sightings in TN

Birdwatchers in TN have been treated to a number of rare birds and firsts for the state this winter. Our friend Mary Glynn Williamson found the Cassins’s Kingbird at Bells Bend Park for a state record. The Chattanooga area has had at least 4 rare bird sightings recently including a first ever: A White-throated Swift seen between January 10 and 16. A Bullock’s Oriole was reported visiting a feeder for about a week. This is the first reported sighting of this species of Oriole in 25 years. And a Snowy Owl was present up until January 20th.

In east TN a Pacific-slope Flycatcher was a first in TN.

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Cassin’s Kingbird

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White-throated Swift

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Bullock’s Oriole

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Snowy Owl

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Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Territorial Mockingbirds           

Based on a number of comments recently from customers our very sassy state bird the Northern Mockingbird seems to be getting a head start on defending nesting grounds. 

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Northern Mockingbird

Usually by mid-February we have several calls a week from frustrated customers experiencing a Mockingbird relentlessly swooping in to chase birds from feeders.  Mockingbirds usually have no interest in the seed in the feeder, although they may consume shelled sunflower and peanuts in very cold weather, however, the reason for their defensiveness is likely because the feeder is close to its chosen nest site.  As spring gets closer the Mockingbird’s territorial instincts heighten and they will let every bird that comes close know they are intruding.  Mockingbirds often choose hedges or evergreens for a nest site. 

Our suggestion is to offer another feeding station out of sight of, or at a good distance from, the one being patrolled by the Mockingbird.  He or she cannot be in two places at once.

In early spring we see Mockingbirds quite often behind The Wood Thrush Shop where they quickly learn we offer live mealworms. They become quite familiar if not friendly. They have been known to come in the backdoor when open and sit on a shelf waiting for us to throw a few more mealworms their way. They have lots of personality and are very intelligent. So, our other suggestion is to try and get to know this great bird and be patient. By the time they complete their first nesting they will typically settle down and not be so defensive.