Dealing With Menacing Mockingbirds
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- Опубликовано: 10 июл 2024
- Northern Mockingbirds can be aggressive at bird feeder stations. Here are a few tips for dealing with these incredible songsters so that all birds can enjoy your offering of food and water.
Mark McKellar is a wildlife biologist with over 35 years of bird study experience. He has a degree in Fish and Wildlife Sciences from North Carolina State University and has worked for the Department of the Army, the Wildlife Departments of North Carolina and Missouri. He ran nature centers for many years in Missouri and Pennsylvania before buying the Backyard Bird Center in the Northland area of Kansas City. Mark has led hundreds of bird hikes both locally and abroad. He has taught classes about birds and other wildlife to groups of all ages and brings that knowledge to the customers of his retail business every day. More information about Mark at backyardbirdcenter.com/about-...
#marksbackyardbirds, #mockingbirds, #dealingwithmockingbird
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:10 Identifying the Northern Mockingbird
00:33 Geographical Distribution of Mockingbirds
01:17 Behavioral Changes During Harsh Winters
01:59 Mockingbirds at Bird Feeder Stations
03:00 Mockingbird Dietary Needs
03:22 Solutions for Mockingbird Aggression
04:51 Additional Methods to Deter Mockingbirds
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Животные
Is anyone else getting woken up at 4am by these things?
Those and robins will sing all night during the spring.
@@MarksBackyardBirds any idea when it will stop? I'm in Ohio
Hard to know for sure. It tends to be worse with bright moonlit nights. My guess would be at least three or four weeks.
Constantly in Broomfield Colorado these birds are assholes
I used to love mockingbirds. For a couple years, they coexisted well with 27 other species our yard. But this year, one has become extremely aggressive. They chase all other species away from the feeders and they will chase woodpeckers completely out of the area. And we're down to about 5 species visiting our feeders. So, while I used to agree that "you don't want to hurt them" . . . I'm beginning to waver!
They can get very aggressive, especially when it comes to limited food sources.
A pair spent the winter here with us in northern MA. They loved the seedbell at the window, then they discovered the suet. It wasn’t til spring that they got a taste for the peanuts and peanut suet balls. MoMo loves peanuts and chased off the starlings and sparrows. Yay! He really, really loves peanuts and later chased off the cardinals, the chickadees, the blue jays, etc. Boo. Tonight, I dumped the peanuts and suet on the ground away from the feeding station. Fingers crossed!
I live in Georgia and these guys are absolute bullies, but I still love them ) Had to buy a separate small mealworm feeder for Bluebirds
They are more bark than bite.
Appreciate you advocating for a diplomatic solution to our tirades.
😂
I love moching birds they are all over the place. They even mocked my moms whistle when she whistles for the dogs lol
That is awesome!
I'm so upset. One pair chased off the cardinals, Redwing black bird, the doves, the sparrows, the chickadees, the finches and (what really broke my heart) the wrens. It even scratched up a finch nest on my porch.
I have berry bushes and garden veggies for them all over the yard. And I have only safflower and sunflower seeds and other nuts in the feeder. They are still not satisfied. The yard is pretty empty of other birds now and I'm lost as to what to do now.
While you can’t harm him, you can try to discourage him by spraying him with the water hose. I have a friend who threw ice cubes at her mockingbird when he got aggressive. He may get frustrated and move on.
They are some of the most annoying birds I’ve ever encountered. All the do is make the most annoying AARRRR. The harasses my cat, the other birds, squirrels, even the deer!!!
And yet they are the favorite bird of many people.
Omg bro I wish I can send u pic the 2 in my yard harass my cat at the window now they look like they wanna harass me
Buy a super soaker a good one with some range
Eat all our fruit.
We have some nesting in our yard and we love them. Love our mealworms
I have a Mockingbird couple that decided to make a home for themselves in the arborvitae tree which is surrounded by all my bird feeders.
At first they were persistent and bullied every bird that came close. Scaring away Grackles, Blue Jays and Woodpeckers. They even chased away a Red Tailed Hawk! Now they seem to only target sparrows and starlings. And it’s like they have a personal grudge against the starlings.
That is a bonus!
I'm heartbroken ... I've been an avid bird feeder for years. We moved to a new home a couple months ago and I set up my feeding station as well as a blue bird (my FAVORITES) box and mealworm feeder. Slowly birds were starting to come to my feeders and a beautiful bluebird pair was showing interest in the feeder & box. Then, the mockingbird showed up and I now have no birds in my yard. This bully swoops at any bird that tries to eat at my feeders and even sits on top of the bluebird nesting box waiting for them to try to come near. When they do, he scares them off. I've tried to scare him away, but he just flies into the trees near my property and comes back when I go inside. I'm so sad.
That is sad. You want birds to stand up to him. People have had luck with a super soaker water gun. They can shoot a long way but don’t really hurt them. May give the other birds a chance.
I had this same exact issue. I when to Walmart bought a pellet gun and now I no longer have the issue and the blue birds are back as well as all the other the mockers chased off. It got to the point they were attacking me when I went to the feeder. That sealed there fate. Pellet gun
I’m in New Jersey and the northern mockingbird has been menacing my area for a few years now. Very aggressive and annoying. Dive attacks adults walking by and on children and neighbors. I wish I knew a way to deter them from being in the area.
There really isn't a way that I am aware of. A severe winter in your area would knock their numbers back for a while but as long as their are fruit bearing trees and places to nest, they will likely be there.
I have always loved hearing mockingbirds here in NJ. I live in the city and years ago they included car alarms in their repertoire. One of my favorite birds…until…last summer…one would wait for my dog and I to run along the river pre-dawn. I would clap, yell and wave my arms but he still tried to kill us! I assumed he was protecting a nest so we went around another way. Nope. He still attacked. I could see his little profile on top of a light post against the city glow night sky…waiting….Scarier than the geese and skunks we avoid!
They can certainly be intimidating which I guess is his or hers intent.
Cool video ,I'm getting them here in Las Vegas and as it's mating season they a super aggressive when I take my break at work they will swoop at you and try to protect their territory.
Especially when they have young ones around.
I am starting to think they have a next in one of my tree because they have been flying low at me and I don't have any feeders out but I create a nice garden.
Good advice. I feed my mockingbirds blueberries and raisins. I love observing them, especially in flight.
They do love fruit.
None of these videos on RUclips about how to get rid of a mockingbird actually tell you how to get rid of them! They just tell you how to bring more of them to your yard!!
There really is very little you can do to get rid of them. You can’t harm them. I generally recommend spraying at them with a water hose as often as you can. Make them uncomfortable in your yard and hopefully they’ll get the message.
Here because I was attacked by a Mockingbird today 🙃
Do you know if you were close to their nest?
@MarksBackyardBirds By the look on its face, I assume I was. There was simultaneous surprise, fear, respect, and admiration ...that a little bird would actually try to attack me. 😂
They are bold!
Mockingbird is Fascinating! I have only one that I know of in my yard. Even at 1:00 🕐 am I lay in bed with a smile when he sings 🎵
You can come have mine. He's perched on the streetlight outside my bedroom window and screeches like a banshee, that is NOT singing. The Mockingbird is mother nature's car alarm that goes off at 2am. I have not had much sleep in 7 weeks since he showed up looking for a bird booty call. Still no mate. Bird has no game. So fed up with him. He's all yours! Come and get him! XD
Live with me for 2 days and you will go crazy
I have no bird food and no water source in my yard. I need to get rid of the Mockingbirds in my yard. They had babies in one of my baby palm trees and now the babies and adults are flying aggressively all over my backyard. They have attacked me several times, so I cannot even go in my yard. They hang out in all my baby palms. I feel like Im living in the movie "The Birds". There are about 10 of them. How do I get them out of my yard???
They are certainly finding the natural foods they need. I have known people to watch where they roost (sleep) at night and spray them with a water hose as they are coming in in the evening to run them off.
I can't sit on my porch or they'll attack!
Im in Calif. We have mocking birds
Came here because I thought I was crazy thinking new mocking birds in my yard had run off all my other beloved birds. I am so sad, don't really know what I am going to do.
It is generally a fairly short lived problem. You can try to discourage them but not harm them. I know people who spray at them with a large super soaker water gun to get them to move on.
This is the second year that a northern mockingbird has eggs near my only door to my apartment. Yesterday it seems to have hatched and it's now swooping down at me as I enter and leave my apartment, and any passerbys on the property
I have heard many stories like yours. One gentleman said he would wear his motorcycle helmet yo be safe. They rarely make contact. It is just their instinct to protect the young. It shouldn’t last more than 10-12 days.
@@MarksBackyardBirds I've a bulky hoodie, sunglasses and an umbrella with me the next couple weeks to deal with it. Last year it did strike the back of my arm and draw a little blood when I was less prepared
Wow. Good plan. He/she is bold
I got 2 of them came out of no where and there all around my backyard and when my cat goes to the windows hes there at all windows went close to my head few times lol they gotta go asap
They are famous for their aggressive nature toward cats and other would be predators.
I have a pair of Mockingbirds that own my front yard they seem the love the holly hedges I have planted there. For they are always in/on them or above them on the power lines. The only times they visit the back yard is to drink at the bird bath. And yes they seem to run off other birds that visit the front yard. I didn't know they do that when I put two bluebird houses there. Saidly I concreted them in so they will be hard to relocate. I had bluebirds and chickidee interested in nesting there but seems the Mockingbirds said no. But the reward was 3 days ago I got to see them do there boundary dance on the ridge of the house. It was pretty impressive to see. I wish I had my phone with me to film it.
They are both entertaining and frustrating at times
They keep pestering the crows and cardinals I've had coming to my feeder all season, so thankful for the advice! 🙏Sounds like fruit is the way to go, hope they take the bait lol Guess I spoil the crows with peanuts and the mockingbirds got jealous 😆
Good luck!
How do we kill them?
You can’t harm them. They are federally protected
The ones in Virginia are hyper aggressive, they actively attack me every day when i walk 😂😅 ive witnessed them attack and take down other birds, they will run plays like its a football game, giving signals to each other and are so coordinated. They are super intelligent and ive learned so much observing and interacting with them. Im convinced they are apex predators 😂😂
Luckily, they are typically only “that” aggressive during their nesting season. In particular, when they have young ones around. I’ve never seen them take down another bird. That is bold.
My only defense is to walk backwards
😂
i keep waking up at 3 in the morning to them screeching outside my window… i don’t know what to do
Hopefully it will be short lived. Once nesting season is over they should lighten up a lot
@@MarksBackyardBirds i hope so as well or i might have to try earplugs
@@mattd4378 Ugh!
Me too! I'm getting woke up at 4am by this dumbass bird
They ignore my goldfinch feeder and since I've switched to safflower seeds on my window feeder I almost never see them.
That is a good thing.
Wow my mockingbirds keep surprising me. Seems they get along with Brown Thrashers I have a pair of Brown Thrashers nesting and feeding along side the mocking birds. Stranger yet when another pair brown thrashers came into the yard the brown thrashers ran them off right away. I also been feeding a stray cat where as the mockingbird will come and eat the cat food maybe I will hear them singing meow. lol
That is interesting. They are cousins but their dietary needs and feeding styles must be different enough that they can share the resources. Plus there is no threat attempted "spouse stealing"
@@MarksBackyardBirds I see why they are called Thrashers they walk along thrashing the ground with there beak. The Mockingbirds are more like hunters.
@@MarksBackyardBirds Yes its almost like they don't see each other. The Brown thrashers I happened to see a fight when another pair came into the yard both male and females all fought. It was a knock down drag out fight. It ended with them chasing the other pair out of the yard. I was a little in shock because I was standing in the middle of it watching it happen.
I have one Mockingbird and he is bullying the other birds! I don't understand why?
It is just in their nature to defend a food or water source once they locate one.
Are there other birds that will scare them off or are they pretty much top dog? I just had one show up today and so far he has scared away the cardinals, the blue jays, a red breasted wood pecker, a downy woodpecker and a bunch of smaller birds. The blue birds haven’t tested him yet but I’m thinking they might clear him out. I saw one run a Falcon out of the tree in the feeding area so I know he’s pretty tough. I’m just hoping that there’s a bird that will step up and handle this a$$h*** mockingbird
They really are all bark and no bite. His attitude is just more than most birds are willing to tolerate. A family of jays shouldn't take his grief but it all depends on the individual birds.
Do y’all think blasting hawk sounds would scare them away?
Blue Jays will imitate Red-shouldered Hawks to scare birds off of feeders. It may work
It’s possible , but lemme tell ya , I’ve yet to see a bird less fearless as the mockingbird! No joke
I heard about a possible link between aggression and lead poisoning???
Not sure what the source of lead would be for a mockingbird
I believe the two are northern mockingbirds that are in my yard
Mockingbirds are awesome .they only sing a couple months out of the year. Right now there is one who just started singing in the big tree out front and he meows like a cat. Coolest thing I have ever seen/heard.
I love them. I've heard them to telephone rings, doorbells and various other sounds too.
Sooo how do you get rid of them!? They taken over our yard. Can’t enjoy our space! Don’t wanna hurt them but it’s becoming annoying
Spray them with a water hose every chance you get. They will hopefully get frustrated and move on to another territory
They r so mean they have ran off all my red birds
They are aggressive.
@@MarksBackyardBirds I love birds they bring me peace . Wish I could have peace at my feeders.. Bully mocking birds..
There's 2 of them everythime my cat goes to the windows here he or she comes arrrgggggggg then went at my head twice I'm getting fed up lol
Its horrible. I can't enjoy my yard, they will definitely attack
They've destroyed my tomato garden this year
melt peanut butter and add rolled oats...EVERYBODY LOVES IT 😂😂😂😂 blue birds feed it babies...mockibgbirds and everybody else eat that stuff 😂😂😂😂😂
So feed them and they will go away? Nawh.
Giving them their own source of food helps to keep them from harassing your other birds.
@@MarksBackyardBirds so, my experience was this, mockingbirds will annoy the crap out of you but they do slow down at the end of the breeding season which is right now in the california central valley where I live, these birds stake out a tree to call in a potential mate and protect the surrounding area with force, I had to protect the doves nesting in a hanging planter outside of my kitchen window from this one mockingbird that tried to evict the doves out of that nest, in the last 7 years only doves have nested there, the mockingbird that took up residence in a tree in my back yard, was very aggressively trying to scare a dove and pre flegling out of that nest, this is the first time a mockingbird has staked out a claim in my back yard in 7 years. Right now the mockingbird is staking out other trees in far neighbors yards so not such an annoyance anymore and there is some silence in my back yard again, not sure what would have happened if I put food out. I don't hate mockingbirds but their inssesant chattering can be annoying in a peaceful back yard.
Mockingbirds --- suck!!!!
Again...why do they can Cardinals and Mocking Birds "Northern"!! I live in Florida and was raised in Alabama. That sort of offends me...
Part of it is that "Southern" to birds on our side of the planet can mean Brazil or even further south.
Surprise surprise. Another stupid reason for someone to be offended. Apparently there is nothing that doesn't offend people these days smh
You my friend are a anti- mock-mit- ic !
I love mockingbirds but in 35 years as a Wildlife Biologist, I have received countless calls from folks who do not share our view. Thus the video.
There is Nothing Menacing about a Mockingbird ! I Absolutely love Mockingbirds and have been trying to figure out how to attract more.
Same here.
Grow tomatoes
I wish the one that sings outside my window all night keeping me awake would fly to your house.