Author Topic: So I've got a mockingbird nest in my front yard... (Read 2147 times)

Nitrogen · « **on:** July 28, 2007, 05:05:23 PM »

...And I think she's got babies in it.

My wife went out to get the mail on wednesday, and got attacked. I laughed at her because I didn't see any birds around.

This morning, we left to go shopping, and we both get it.

Any of you folks have any ideas on how to deal with this problem short of murdering the bird in cold blood? My wife is terrified to go outside now...

Paddy · « **Reply #1 on:** July 28, 2007, 05:14:53 PM »

Just kill it and don't worry about it. Mockingbirds also spread mistletoe by eating the seeds and crapping them out to infect other oaks.

Nitrogen · « **Reply #2 on:** July 28, 2007, 05:23:11 PM »

Mockingbirds are migratory birds, and killing one is a federal crime. Up to 6 months in jail, and $500 fine. Also, if you use a gun to kill a migratory bird, your guns get siezed.

16 U.S.C. Â§Â§ 703-712

Paddy · « **Reply #3 on:** July 28, 2007, 05:59:49 PM »

I apoligize. Far be it from me to violate any federal laws.

Cromlech · « **Reply #4 on:** July 28, 2007, 06:05:13 PM »

Get a pet Peregrine Falcon, and have it trained to scare off, but not harm other birds. Most would take off like the proverbial bat out of hell. Of course, that may not be legal either, or practical.

cheesy

armchair warrior · « **Reply #5 on:** July 28, 2007, 07:47:58 PM »

What caliber for mockingbirds? laugh

I've never been attacked by one but I know know that they
don't shutup after the sun goes down. angry

Stand_watie · « **Reply #6 on:** July 28, 2007, 07:55:17 PM »

I've had mockingbirds in my yard for the entire time I've been in this house - it was a cow-pasture before I had my house built. They've never, ever acted agressive towards humans. That's not to say I doubt your story. Not at all. From my experience, both in the north and south, mockingbirds are the "bluejays" of the south...aggressive to the extreme.

I imagine nitrogen is completely correct.. pretty much any non-game bird is federally protected..this means your options are S.S.S., attract other birds to your yard that will distract it, or make such a nuisance of yourself to animal control that they rid you of the problem.
I think Cromlech, even as a joke, has a valid idea. My own first thought is to hang up a bird feeder or five in your yard. If you attract a few other songbirds, your mockingbird will be too busy attacking the other birds to attack your wife... bonus is that you get to watch the other birds, most of which will be much friendlier than mockingbirds.

Gewehr98 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 28, 2007, 08:00:44 PM »

What's wrong with just putting up an owl decoy in a spot visible to the songbirds?

Always worked on our property...

Stand_watie · « **Reply #8 on:** July 28, 2007, 08:25:07 PM »

Quote from: Gewehr98 on July 28, 2007, 07:00:44 PM

What's wrong with just putting up an owl decoy in a spot visible to the songbirds?

Always worked on our property...

Unlike other birds, mockingbirds (and bluejays) will attack your owl decoy. Encountering no resistance, they'll use it at as a perch. Poop on it. Soon you'll say, "see that white thing out there? It used to be a plastic owl with a swiveling head and lighted eyes, now it's a mockingbird perch"

Jamisjockey · « **Reply #9 on:** July 29, 2007, 03:21:17 AM »

Cat. It won't scare off the mocking bird, but it'll give the bird something else to attack....
grin

Harold Tuttle · « **Reply #10 on:** July 29, 2007, 03:23:41 AM »

you are being dominated by a song bird

i suggest a tennis racket

280plus · « **Reply #11 on:** July 29, 2007, 04:05:50 AM »

Strategically place a copy of "To Kill a Mockingbird" it it's flight path, maybe it'll get the hint. grin

Or better yet, take the book at use it to swat the bird out of the air. Now THAT would be some irony! laugh

mountainclmbr · « **Reply #12 on:** July 29, 2007, 06:50:36 AM »

The little ones grow fast. They will be gone before you know it.

Werewolf · « **Reply #13 on:** July 29, 2007, 07:10:43 AM »

Blue Jays occassionally show up to nest in the large oak in my front yard. Noisey pests! And they're brave enough to dive bomb my cats.

They don't usually do it more than twice...

Get a cat - if they can take out Jays they can handle a freakin' mocking bird.

Leatherneck · « **Reply #14 on:** July 30, 2007, 05:31:41 AM »

One of my earliest memories from childhood is of spying an occupied nest in a tree, and, being a boy, climbing up to see the eggs/chicks--whatever. About halfway up, I felt a stunning blow to the back of my head and blood started running down. The Jay had strafed me, and done a damn fine job of it at that!

TC

Jamisjockey · « **Reply #15 on:** July 30, 2007, 05:50:13 AM »

Quote from: Werewolf on July 29, 2007, 06:10:43 AM

Blue Jays occassionally show up to nest in the large oak in my front yard. Noisey pests! And they're brave enough to dive bomb my cats.

They don't usually do it more than twice...

Get a cat - if they can take out Jays they can handle a freakin' mocking bird.

Funny! Mockin' birds are certainly tougher than a Jay. I've seen one work a cat over one day....funny stuff.....

When I lived in Brownsville, we'd get Parrots. Yes, green parrots. I don't mean a few, though.....we lived on a small pond (don't get excited, it had 0 visibility and smelled like ass).....we'd get hundreds of parrots. They are noisy and crap all over everything.....hated 'em.

Thor · « **Reply #16 on:** July 30, 2007, 06:13:23 AM »

We had a similar problem at our last house. My wife likes to have all of these hanging potted plants outside. A Robin built a nest in one, right by our front door. My wife got swooped and the Robin was trying to scare her off from the nest. Since I was at work, I told her to call to cops. (small town). The Chief of Police came over and relocated the potted plant (with the nest in it) to the empty lot next door. My solution would have been just to use another door, away from the nest until the baby Robins were gone.

Nitrogen, you didn't indicate which state you live in. I know that Mockingbirds are the state bird of Texas.

Sergeant Bob · « **Reply #17 on:** July 30, 2007, 06:42:49 AM »

I would never let myself be ruled by such a lowly critter.

Summer Mockingbird Kabobs

Ingredients
16 pieces of Mockingbird breast meat (no bones) (8 birds)
16 pieces of green pepper
16 cherry tomatoes
8 button mushrooms
8 ears of sweet corn
1 1/2 cups of Teriyaki sauce
1/2 cup melted butter
8 kabob skewers
Preparation
Cut each piece of Mockingbird in half and place in a covered bowl with the Teriyaki sauce over night. Clean and cut each ear of corn into 3 pieces. Cook in boiling salt water for 10 minutes. Alternately put corn (3 pieces), green peppers (3 pieces) and cherry tomatoes (3) along with 4 pieces of crow meat on each skewer. Use 1 mushroom to top each skewer. Brush with melted butter and place on preheated grill for about 4 minutes. Flip, butter again and place back on grill for another 4 minutes. Repeat one last time for a total of 12 minutes or until they appear done. Serves four adults.

Leatherneck · « **Reply #18 on:** July 30, 2007, 07:11:51 AM »

I'm surprised nobody's done this yet:

Quote

I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do. ~Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird, Chapter 11, spoken by the character Atticus

TC

caseydog · « **Reply #19 on:** July 30, 2007, 07:34:08 AM »

Quote from: Harold Tuttle on July 29, 2007, 02:23:41 AM

you are being dominated by a song bird

i suggest a tennis racket

Sorry but that one made me do the soda snort grin

Ray

MechAg94 · « **Reply #20 on:** July 30, 2007, 11:19:30 AM »

Get a chicken snake?

I was thinking of a tennis racket as well. I like the bird feeder idea.

Bigjake · « **Reply #21 on:** July 30, 2007, 12:39:47 PM »

barring that, be a man and shoot the damned thing. You're on top of the food chain for a reason....

Cromlech · « **Reply #22 on:** July 30, 2007, 01:40:04 PM »

Of course while doing so at your own risk (of being reported), there is always the air gun option.

Jamisjockey · « **Reply #23 on:** July 30, 2007, 01:49:01 PM »

Go ahead and kill it. Great idea.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migratory_Bird_Treaty_Act_of_1918

The tennis raquet idea is funny, though

Thor · « **Reply #24 on:** July 30, 2007, 02:39:00 PM »

Our treaties did a lot of good for the Native Americans......... rolleyes

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Author Topic: So I've got a mockingbird nest in my front yard... (Read 2147 times)

Paddy

Paddy