[rshoffer]

Has anyone else (or their dog) been attacked by mocking birds? As soon as Maverick goes out in our front yard, this one wacked out mocking bird starts doing a kamakazi dive right into his rear end... over and over. As the bird is attacking he makes a loud chirping squack. Where's my tennis racket?

[graciegirl]

I think it sounds like a mom, you know how intense and protective mothers are.

[Keedy]

Wow, Alfred Hitchcock does Leisureworld.....I think there is a movie..or maybe a TV series...

[KayakerNC]

Protect the nest!
http://content.usatoday.net/dist/cus...30783553.story

[jdsl1998]

Yes, Yes, Yes, that has happened every morning to my dog also. At first, I thought the bird did it by mistake. Then it happened again and again. It's also more than one bird, they are taking turns. Just imagine trying to do your business with that going on. Pesky things, but I love to hear them sing.

[nONIE]

Thankyou Kayaker!

There is always a good reason why nature reacts the way it does, and obviously these birds feel threatened. Please keep your tennis racket on the court, these birds were here before you were. They are only doing what comes naturally and instinctively.

You would protect your kids if you thought they were in harms way too!

[BogeyBoy]

My dog is much lower to the ground than me so I never considered him as the target.

One of the attributes of the mocking bird is that if it feels threatened by a person or animal "twice" it will remember them and attack them every chance they get. It is not unique but rather their way of going after threats.
What is interesting is that it usually has to happen twice before they will remember and attack.

[Bernie]

Originally Posted by rshoffer

Has anyone else (or their dog) been attacked by mocking birds? As soon as Maverick goes out in our front yard, this one wacked out mocking bird starts doing a kamakazi dive right into his rear end... over and over. As the bird is attacking he makes a loud chirping squack. Where's my tennis racket?

How would a dog go about threating a bird with it's rear end -- twice?

[rshoffer]

Originally Posted by KayakerNC

Protect the nest!
http://content.usatoday.net/dist/cus...30783553.story

Yea, I'll buy the "protect the nest" argument when Maverick starts climbing trees.
Anyway.... Maverick and I are in the war room mounting an anti-aircraft strategy.

[MSNPA]

Twice when I was walking on the Buena Vista trail a Mocking Bird flew at my head. It really scared me. I figured both times I was too close to a nest.

Of course a dog could walk near or bark at a nest.

[swrinfla]

The mockers are undoubtedly protecting their nest. But, here's a question: I thought baby birds came in the early spring, not in the heat of summer?

Maybe the dog peed on their lawn!

Mockers do have a reputation of being feisty, and thus, a tad whacko! Years ago, up home, I watched one battle that other bird in his territory. Of course, the bird was in the outside rear-view mirror on my car!

Once, when The Cat was alive, a pair of mockers saw him on the screened lanai. They attacked him for several days. He answered, at first, by doing his cat-like waggle-the-tail-end bit, then ignored them After a while they gave up and went about their normal business!

SWR

[duffysmom]

I've been watching two mocking bird fledglings learning to fly in my yard. They caught my attention when the parents started to dive bomb me. They cannot fly but hop from bush to bush and are still being fed many times a day.Soon the parents will lessen the feedings and encourage the babies to fly and find their own food. They do not have a nest (probably pushed out by mom and dad) but live in the bushes and hop around flapping their wings and one day soon they will fly. Nature is a reality show like no other. Lovin life in The Villages.

[rshoffer]

I'm modifying a helmet for Maverick's butt.....