Angry mockingbirds

[ROCKETMAN]

A pair of mockingbirds have built a nest in a large plant right by our lightpost. As soon as we just step in our driveway he or she flutters right in your face and twice almost pecked my wife in the arm. Anyone else ever had this problem. We are going up north for 10 days so hope mother nature speeds up the delivery process.

[graciegirl]

Confront them and remind them who pays the taxes.

[kittygilchrist]

I've had them dive bomb me going into a business and wait outside for round 2! they will take on any size bird in the air. I love feisty little things.
wasps vs hummingbirds is a fight scene worth seeing.

[ROCKETMAN]

Confront them and remind them who pays the taxes.

If there still there when we get back I will take your advice!!

[Madelaine Amee]

A pair of mockingbirds have built a nest in a large plant right by our lightpost. As soon as we just step in our driveway he or she flutters right in your face and twice almost pecked my wife in the arm. Anyone else ever had this problem. We are going up north for 10 days so hope mother nature speeds up the delivery process.

We have had exactly the same problem and finally I put my hand in the bush and rattled their nest - they stay away from me now, just fly up onto the gutter and grumble at me. But when my lovely old lab was alive, and when they had their young flying around, they would make her life hell, dive bombing her and pecking her head while she was doing her business. I used to have to go out with her with a golf club and bat at them to give her some peace. Finally we got so fed up with them I turned the hose on them whenever they came down into our yard, they got the hint and left.

The worst bird we ever had nesting in our yard was a Shrike - a real nazi, it used to attack every other bird coming into the yard and even went for both of us.

[rayschic]

A pair of mockingbirds have built a nest in a large plant right by our lightpost. As soon as we just step in our driveway he or she flutters right in your face and twice almost pecked my wife in the arm. Anyone else ever had this problem. We are going up north for 10 days so hope mother nature speeds up the delivery process.

Mockingbirds can be VERY aggressive especially when they have a nest.
They lay 3–5 eggs. The female will sit on the eggs for about 2 weeks. After the chicks are born, both adults will feed them for another 10-14 days. Then they will be independent. Hopefully by the time you get back, they will have moved on.

[Taltarzac725]

There was a nest of mockingbirds in the bushes around Lynnhaven pool for about three months. Anyone trying to walk their dog(s) around the pool would often get dive bombed-- both the dogs and their owners. Really do not like birds flying at my face. Was glad when the three months or so was over but they still seem to turn up now and again.

[TrudyM]

When in Atlanta I used to walk with an old tennis racket I picked up at a garage sale. People probably thought I was crazy (and then those who know me didn't wonder) but it was for the dive bombers at the corner of the street. Batter up.

[rubicon]

Angry mockingbirds and me go back a long way. Barn swallows also a problem and trying to discourage them from nesting well I tried every suggesting the DNR gave me and all it did was encourage them to stay. Mowing was never a pleasure

[l2ridehd]

Just whistle at them. They will stop, listen and wonder what new bird they can add to their repertoire. Works every time. Red Wing Blackbirds do the same thing and whistling at them doesn't work.

[DonH57]

They may be the same birds that pester our lab in the front yard. They would swoop down and peck at his backside and tail. Are they gray with with and black markings on their wings? Just curious as I'm not a bird person

[rayschic]

They may be the same birds that pester our lab in the front yard. They would swoop down and peck at his backside and tail. Are they gray with with and black markings on their wings? Just curious as I'm not a bird person

Here's are some pictures.


Pictures of Mockingbirds, Mockingbird Facts (http://www.northrup.org/photos/mockingbird/)

[ROCKETMAN]

They may be the same birds that pester our lab in the front yard. They would swoop down and peck at his backside and tail. Are they gray with with and black markings on their wings? Just curious as I'm not a bird person

They are grey and have white markings on their wings I think. Might be some black markings also

[DonH57]

Yep. They are the ones. Thanks Rayschic.

[rayschic]

Just whistle at them. They will stop, listen and wonder what new bird they can add to their repertoire. Works every time. Red Wing Blackbirds do the same thing and whistling at them doesn't work.

Yes, you can have a lot of fun with mockingbirds. If you whistle, they will stop and then imitate you. You change what you whistle, and they change, too. After a while they will be singing away, going back and forth bewteen what you just whistled at them and songs that they knew before.

[batman911]

I dislike bringing bad news but Mocking Birds are the Florida and Texas state bird and you can face a significant fine if you harm one or harass their nesting area.