Our Baby Mockingbirds Are Growing Fast
Two posts back I shared photos of two sets of Northern Mockingbird families that I had been watching for many weeks, finally capturing the babies out of their nests. I’ve continued to keep an eye out for them, now I can hear the smallest babies by the tennis courts chirping as they stay hidden in the marshy grass and trees behind their nest tree. Their parents are in and out keeping them fed. The other mockingbird family in a bush at the base of the osprey nest platform that I’ve been watching from my balcony were a little older and have been quite visible and entertaining every evening that I’ve had a chance to watch them.
I also tried to capture some semi-clear shots each time, but they weren’t very cooperative as they would run and now fly around the entire area below me, from a walking path light, to a flower bed, to the rocks; just not staying still long enough for anything real good to share. Finally, this past Tuesday evening I lucked out I think!
First here’s sibling #1, who I discovered had recently learned to find his own bugs in the flower beds and grass and feed himself. He had stopped the constant chirping to the parents that he was hungry. The parents still shared some food, but he appeared to be doing his hunting all by himself for the most part.
In fact, that evening he became so content after a while of successful hunting & eating, he took a break, flew up to the bench, and hung out to savor the waterview.
Juvenile Northern Mockingbird – Enjoying the waterview
Giving his sibling a look as if to say, “Stop chirping already! Go find your own bugs!”
Now here’s his sibling, #2, the demanding one who is not feeding himself yet, and who does not give mom or dad much of a break….ever! His chirping is non-stop, even after the parent would depart to hunt for more food. If the parent stayed in the vicinity, #2 would fly to the parent and scream some more. Sometimes the parent left the area altogether, I think for a break! And so what did #2 do then? He would just get louder! And each time within minutes, a parent returned with more bugs. It seemed to never be enough though, and I felt for the poor parents!
In the first photo, baby #2 had just been given a mouth full of bugs. Was he happy? No. He’s now letting his parent and the world know he wants more!
Parent and Juvenile Northern Mockingbird
So off the parent went, while #2 continues to demand!
“Hurry up, I’m hungry!”
As soon as a parent returned and located baby #2, another mouthful of bugs would be transferred.
At one point, #2 was just below me, perched on a ‘decorated’ walking path light. And, of course, still telling the world he was hungry.
Does any one hear me? I am hungry!
Just as quick, a parent returned with a couple of bugs.
Parent arrives with couple bugs for the baby.
Making the transfer….
Getting that last one!
Within seconds of swallowing, the baby began his loud demands again. The parent tried to ignore him, which seemed a little impossible.
Parent trying to ignore baby’s demands.
Baby Mockingbird cutting his eye at the parent while demanding more bugs!
After that last shot, the parent was back in flight for more food. This has been going on each evening that I’ve had a chance to watch, and I imagine in the morning and throughout the day as well. What a rigorous schedule, poor parents!
Finally, in the midst of watching the mockingbirds that evening, I was also treated with a sighting of three deer walking along the shoreline over at CBEC, across Marshy Creek. Here’s a quick share of them.
Deer at Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center
I hope you enjoyed those growing baby mockingbirds, especially little #2. He provided some neat behavior shots as he told the world that little belly of his was hungry. Really really hungry! 😉
As always, thanks for stopping by and for your comments! Stay cool and safe with the heat!
Excellent captures! I see the same behavior with young robins, there always seems to be one little one that never stops begging for more food, even as its siblings go about feeding themselves.
Thanks Jerry, I’ve seen young robins do it too, it is comical to watch them, but poor parent, they always look so bewildered!
Marvelous … you’ve caught the whole of the fledgling saga… great shots.
Thank you Snow Bird! It was a joy to watch and I loved the challenge trying to capture an open mouth!
As always Donna you outdo yourself with such wonderful pictures. Great work dear! 🙂
Thanks so much HJ! Just wish I could have gotten them a little sharper for the cropping, but they just wouldn’t sit still very long. Hungry little fellas! 🙂
I enjoyed these photos an descriptions very much! What wonderful birds they are!
They are quite abundant here but I had never given them much thought until this spring when I started seeing the same adults in the same immediate area each morning & began watching their behavior, soon discovering where their nests were hidden, and then getting to watch nature unfold. I quickly discovered how wonderful the very smart Northern Mockingbird really are too!
love seeing the babies, they are so ignorant of the dangers which makes it easier to observe them.And the last photo reminds me that it doesn’t always have to be a close-up to be a good and enjoyable photo.Thank you for sharing these, Donna, they are most delightful!
Thanks Jane, wildlife babies do offer some fearless photo ops at times and I had fun watching these. The deer were an extra treat and I watched them with my binoculars as I snapped a dozen or so shots. They trudged along the muddy shoreline, the baby almost tripping at times as he tried to pull his little legs back out of the muck for another step. Who cannot love a wildlife baby??!! 🙂
Nice shots 🙂
Thank you Juraj, and thank you for stopping by!
Great job Donna…you certainly have a lot to watch where you live!!!
Thanks David, I do & love it. Sometimes the bird activity has caused one of my meals to get way overcooked (burnt!) or not even get started at times, LOL I’m lucky to have an understanding hubby! 🙂
I enjoyed your account of the incessant demands of mockingbird baby #2. 🙂
I was recently watching a cardinal dutifully feeding his fledgling cowbird. It made me kind of sad. He was being such a good dad, and I was thinking his cowbird son probably killed the cardinals real children. 😦
Thanks Deb on #2, I watched him last night and he’s still just as demanding! So sad a story on the cardinal family, I had no idea fledgling cowbirds would be so violent to another species to earn a spot to be fed. I guess though some fledglings, either in desperation or by instinct might do this. Such a wonderful cardinal daddy to instinctively take care of another’s young.
I have been driving myself crazy trying to find information on what to do with my little mockingbird Bach. I watched him carefully for two days and had no choice but to take him in and care for him. He has wonderful parents but they had a nest of other young ones and they nearly died more then once trying to care for him since he fell from the nest. Anyhow, its been two months and this little one sounds like your #2. He has gotten to the point that he is NEVER full. He also refuses to feed himself. He will peck at food, then it seems he decides its too much trouble and just starts screaming instead and the screaming never stops. Bach gets full access to the house to fly around everyday for 1 hour. He uses this time to follow us around and scream for food. I want to release him back into the wild and watch him/her raise chicks of his/her own one day….if he/she will ever feed itself
But thank you for all your information on this nest of mockingbirds and the pictures. It has helped a lot! Being able to see the chicks size and reading about their habits has put my mind to ease, once again thank you 🙂