[Judybird]

Last weekend I saw some interesting adult Mockingbird behavior to the side of my patio lanaiin SW Florida. The two birds were faking injury which peaked my curiosity. I went out to the front of my house only to find two baby Mockingbirds on the ground and a 3-4 foot Florida Banded Watersnake nearby. I inadvertently (and fortunately) frightened the snake away and also frightened the babies to run away as well. About 30 minutes later I saw one baby and then another in our backyard.

Being the bird freak I am, and being rather short, I enlisted the help of my husband to scoop up a baby at a time and return them to the nest in the tree in our front yard - close to where they were originally on the ground. They each seemed excited to hop from his hands to the nest.

Good news - I believe I saw the same two Mockingbird babies this weekend, larger and in full and clumsy flight on the same side of my house. It seems all ended well.

One question..do Mockingbirds lay 3 or 4 clutches of eggs each year? If so, do they build a new nest each time? This weekend I saw adult Mockingbirds building the third nest in our yard in about two months time. All three are to the east of our house, in various trees or bushes. Is this likely to be one pair or the extended family? Our street seems to be overrun with nesting Mockingbirds and void of much else.

Any insight is appreciated.

[arco13]

What a cool story. I love watching Mockingbirds because they seem so dam smart. Im glad the little guys are ok. You are a hero.