Subscriber Comments for
Baby Mockingbird in Rose Bush

Comments in order of when they were received | (reverse order)

COMMENT 298036	2012-07-16 11:15 AM
Cute. Also, be careful where you stick your hands around bushes/plants when gardening this time of year. Rattlesnakes - not so cute.
SBJULES	2012-07-16 12:03 PM
I'm glad you saw him; very cute
COMMENT 298068	2012-07-16 12:31 PM
I saw a pair of tiny birds crawling under some crab grass right outside our townhouse, and to my surprise I heard little chirps...I guess they are ground nesters and had cleverly hidden the nest in plain view. I could have easily walked right on top of it without knowing.
COMMENT 298074	2012-07-16 12:44 PM
Last weekend I saw an alligator lizard AND a gopher snake in my yard, both took me by surprise. Definitely look before you leap and/or prune! Thanks for sharing your baby bird pic.
COMMENT 298086P	2012-07-16 12:55 PM
Mockingbirds usually have their nests in bushes close to the ground. The babies don't stay in the nest for too long and the parents continue to feed them as they hop around in the bushes before finally taking care of themselves. We have babies hopping around in the hedge in our front yard and the nest already has more eggs in it! We also had some bluebellies hatch out. One was sunning itself on our front steps yesterday. Little guy just sat their watching us as we carefully stepped over him.
COMMENT 298140	2012-07-16 03:06 PM
Found me a big fat rattler in my grape vines ;bet he loves little birds too.
COMMENT 298211	2012-07-16 05:04 PM
That is the California Toowee. They have nested for the last 2 years in the same place. Hopefully you don't have cats that hunt! They are the sweetest birds and are ground hunters. They will fledge the nest within 11 days and be on the ground for days while the parents teach them how to fly and hunt for them selves!
COMMENT 298259P	2012-07-16 09:44 PM
298140: where do you live that you found a rattler in your grape vines?!!
COMMENT 298373	2012-07-17 09:53 AM
That is a beautiful little Mockingbird. They do usually hatch two clutches per season. Mockingbirds are one of our most beautiful songbirds and you were blessed to have the opportunity to see life in progress. At the wildlife center we receive so many babies whose homes were destroyed, thank you for doing the right thing. Some think that it's just easy to destroy the nest and give the babies to us, but it's a longer, much more stressful process to freedom than it is when the babies are raised by their parents. If you have any questions about babies or bird behavior call the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network at 681-1080. Please be patient if we cannot speak to you immediately. It is our busiest season and we are understaffed and very, very busy saving lives!
COMMENT 298386	2012-07-17 10:02 AM
Funny this was brought up.A little known fact is that the migratory bird act of 1918 places protections on many species including the northern mockingbird. One of the criteria put in place is protection of breeding animals and a mandate which prohibits pruning, mowing, or destroying breeding habitat during the breeding season. (Mar.-Aug.) These protections are violated all the time in our area and elsewhere. (Especially at our env't conscious University)
BONNER	2012-07-17 11:01 AM
I had a gopher snake in my driveway and quickly scooped him up in bucket and relocated to my sizable vegetable garden to urge him to stay and have some gopher lunches. He hung around for a couple weeks then disappeared as crops were harvested. I have a photo of him drinking while I was hand watering but have to submit separately if I have time. I miss him!

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