If you've been keeping up with my mockingbird photo essays then you'll know that we had a mockingbird couple hatch five babies in a tree right beside our front porch. I was able to take loads of photos as they grew and developed and Haley and Parker were able to see birds and babies in action. Earlier photo essays can be found here and here.
These will be the last photos of the babies as they all fell out of the nest on Friday and went hopping off on their grand adventure of life in the big world. I assume (and hope) that they all eventually figured out how those wings work and flew, but I can't say for sure. When the first one fell I was a bit freaked out. It had been an upsetting day anyway, because I learned of the death of my best friend of 17 years. I was afraid the baby would not make it, but slowly they all tried out their wings and fell, so I'm assuming it was their time to leave the nest.
In this first photo there were still three babies left. Two in the nest and one was out on a limb. I was correct in my original count of the babies - five total.
At this point four of the five had all fallen and gone off somewhere. Only this one was left, and I don't think he was quite ready to go yet.
I took these first few shots from on the porch and ground.
Then I decided to drag one of our chairs from off the porch and stand on it to get some better and more close-up shots.
I took quite a few, posted one in my image list, and posted the few here. Didn't want to post too many. This was the last one I took before he fell off the limb too.
Then he went hopping off across the yard.
He tried to use those wings many times but never did take flight.
He eventually got in one of my azalea bushes and that's the last we saw of him.
I'm hoping the mockingbirds use this same nest next year too. Anyone know if they tend to come back to the same place to lay eggs?
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Comments: 43
Two days ago we discovered a small nest in the wreath on our front door...and the watching parents. Just today we saw the baby bird. Couldn't believe the size of the bird. He was stationary, but the parents had a different chirp. Yes they are mockingbirds. Will be anxious to see how long he stays in the nest. Will try to keep my cat from the area. lol My hubby took some pics of the bambino. Will post when can.
Janelle...janrich
I am not sure about the nests, but we also had a mockingbird make her nest in my yard this year. Unfortunately I went to IL for a couple of weeks and the eggs hatched and the birdies left the nest while I was gone.
I hope they come back to the same nest again, but it won't matter for me anyways because we are moving back to IL in the next few months so I won't even be here next year to see if they do.
Thanks so much for posting this to
my group
very beautiful birds...
I love all of your picutres, they are great.
I don't know if they return to the same nest, or even area, but I do know that they will stick around if you feed them. We have 1 or 2 that stay around our house & we feed them. I love the sounds of mockingbirds! They can imitate the sounds of dogs & even humans!
After knowing them for 17 years it is hard when they pass.
Now your Mocking Birds are all gone but that one in your
azalea bushes. I don't know if they come back to nest in
the same place or not.
place came back for a couple of years but he moved
the bird nesting house hasn't seen them since.
Do you have many mockingbirds where you live?